Former India assistant coach Abhishek Nayar has slammed the Men in Blue following their nine-wicket loss to England in the fourth T20I of the five-match series. The contest was played on Thursday, July 9, at the County Ground in Bristol.
After opting to bat first, the visitors finished on 158/7, with skipper Shreyas Iyer top-scoring with an unbeaten 80 off 49 balls, including four fours and five sixes. In reply, Phil Salt remained unbeaten on 59 off 42 balls, hitting nine fours and one six, while captain Harry Brook finished on 79* off 35 balls, smashing eight fours and four sixes, as the hosts chased down the target in just 13.5 overs to take an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series.
Speaking in a video shared on the Star Sports YouTube channel, Nayar criticised the Men in Blue, saying they looked underprepared. He pointed out that England executed their plans to perfection, with Jofra Archer consistently targeting India's left-handers with hard lengths and pace, while Will Jacks was used effectively as part of the hosts' strategy.
In contrast, Nayar felt India took the field without a clear plan and questioned the team selection, pointing out that the side featured seven left-handers in the top eight. He said:
Former India wicketkeeper Saba Karim also criticised the team, saying that ever since the start of the Ireland series, the visitors have lacked clear batting and bowling plans. He pointed out that the batters have continued to fall to the short ball and have shown no clear strategy for playing spin. He said:
Meanwhile, the defeat also marked the first time in 12 years that India failed to beat England in a T20I series.
In the same video, Abhishek Nayar said Shreyas Iyer would naturally be under pressure after the side suffered back-to-back series defeats under his captaincy. He added that in difficult situations, captains can often feel isolated in the dressing room, making the support of the coaching staff crucial as Iyer settles into the role. He said:
Shreyas Iyer's side will next be in action in the fifth and final T20I on Saturday, July 11, in Southampton.
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