India's pitiful batting performance in the third T20I of the series against England has once again brought into focus the team management. Former India keeper-batsman Dinesh Karthik did not shy away from criticising the Gautam Gambhir-led team management right after India suffered a collapse at Trent Bridge, when pacer Harshit Rana was promoted to bat ahead of all-rounder Shivam Dube.

Going after 202, India was at its worst in T20Is and fell for a mere 76 in 11.4 overs. The loss gave England 125 runs verdict and a 2–0 lead in the best-of-five series after the first match washed out.

India's innings unravelled in a hurry when Axar Patel fell on the last ball of the 5 th over, as the visiting side tumbled to 52/5. Referring to the inclusion of Harshit Rana rather than Shivam Dube team management was shocked by the decision. Even Dinesh Karthik was working on commentary.

Karthik said :

Can you be serious? Harshit Rana above Shivam Dube? Come on;  I can't be serious." 

Dube finally arrived in the fifth over but only scored two runs from four balls before being caught and bowled by the prodigiously talented Josh Tongue.

Karthik further questioned if the team management had sufficiently relied on Dube.

He responded :

"Are the (team management) not having enough confidence in Dube that they will throw him into the band like this? They have instead responded by promoting Harshit Rana before him. I am not sure that is the wisest approach," 

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Previously, England scored 201/7 after Phil Salt launched an attack. Phil Salt struck a brutal 70 off just 44 balls. The likes of Sam Curran came in handy, scoring a brisk 41 runs in 24 balls on a surface that was more generous to the bowlers.

India got off to a brisk start, with Vaibhav Sooryavanshi smashing two sixes in his brief cameo of 13 in 5 balls. Unfortunately, with his edge, the innings was never quite the same. Josh Tongue took 4/28 with the ball, and Jofra Archer returned 3/29 as England completed the innings easily.

This 125-run defeat was India's highest-run deficit ever in T20I, exceeding the 80-run defeat to New Zealand in 2019.2 It was also India's second-lowest total all-out in T20 internationals.

Captain Iyer showed his disappointment after the match.

He said :

"The performance was "abysmal" and felt the side would have to "go right back to the drawing board".

England captain Harry Brook reflected on the overall team display after the victory.

"We took to the bat well. To take that on to the bowling was brilliant," said Brook.

India have now lost each of their past four completed T20Is, following their series loss against Ireland. With two matches remaining, India need to win both to avoid losing the series.