Historic low! India lose back-to-back bilateral T20I series for the first time since 2019. cricket news
England created history by securing their first bilateral T20I series win over India in a two or more match contest after an impressive nine-wicket win in the fourth T20I at the County Ground, Bristol.The win gave Harry Brook’s side an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series after the opener was washed out due to rain, a historic feat against one of the strongest T20 teams in the world. The defeat also highlighted India’s recent struggles in the format. It was the first time since February 2019 that India had lost consecutive bilateral T20 series, having previously lost 2-0 in Ireland earlier this year. The last such instance came when India lost 2-1 in New Zealand in 2019 before suffering a 2-0 home defeat against Australia.
Brook and Salt rewrite the record books
England’s imposing target of 159 was powered by an unbeaten 146-run partnership between captain Harry Brook and opening batsman Phil Salt, the fourth highest partnership against India in T20I history and one of the highest ever in a successful chase.
Highest partnership against India in T20I
| partnership | Team | venue | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 174* – Quinton de Kock and David Miller | South Africa | Guwahati | 2022 |
| 170* – Alex Hales and Jos Buttler | England | Adelaide (T20 World Cup SF) | 2022 |
| 152*- Babar Azam and Mohammad Rizwan | Pakistan | Dubai (T20 World Cup) | 2021 |
| 146 – Harry Brook and Phil Salt* | England | bristol | 2026 |
| 133 – David Warner and Shane Watson | Australia | Colombo (T20 World Cup) | 2012 |
Brook remained unbeaten on 79, while Salt remained unbeaten on 59, as England achieved the target in just 13.5 overs and won with 37 balls to spare.
One of England’s greatest goals
The clinical chase also entered England’s record books. The win was England’s joint-second biggest win with wickets remaining while chasing a target of more than 150 runs, equaling the nine-wicket win over South Africa while chasing a target of 192 runs in Cape Town in 2020. Only England’s famous 10-wicket win over India in the 2022 T20 World Cup semi-final, when they chased 169 without losing a wicket, ranks higher.Among Full Member nations, England became the joint-fourth fastest successful chaser of over 150 with balls remaining.
Most balls remaining in a successful chase of over 150 (Full Members)
| balls remaining | match |
|---|---|
| 60 | India vs New Zealand, Guwahati (2026) |
| 43 | New Zealand vs South Africa, T20 World Cup 2026 |
| 37 | West Indies vs South Africa, Kingston (2024) |
| 37 | England vs India, Bristol (2026) |
| 33 | England vs Pakistan, Lahore (2022) |
captain leads from the front
The Bristol competition also achieved another rare feat. This was the 37th men’s T20I in which both captains scored more than 50, the 16th involving two full member nations, and the first between India and England.