India’s failed white-ball reboot: Captaincy, execution and adaptation under scrutiny | Cricket news

Shreyas Iyer and Gautam Gambhir (Photo X)

Mumbai: Four months ago, India were celebrating a second consecutive T20 World Cup triumph under Suryakumar Yadav, built on an aggressive yet calculated brand of cricket. Today they are on unknown ground. The 125-run defeat in Nottingham — India’s biggest run loss in T20 Internationals — was more than just another loss. Chasing 202, they were bowled out for 76 in 11.4 overs, slumping to a fourth successive defeat after a shock 0-2 series defeat in Ireland. Captain Shreyas Iyer called the batting display “cruel and unacceptable”.Head coach Gautam Gambhir called this phase a “reset” after major personnel changes. Iyer has replaced Surya as captain while key figures like Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah are absent. But the transition alone cannot explain the scale of the decline. India’s inability to adapt to overseas conditions has become an equally worrying trend. TOI looks at the factors behind the slide.

Captaincy under scrutiny

Iyer’s tenure got off to a shaky start. His knocks – 3, 10, 68, 37 and 5 – were inconsistent, while tactical decisions raised questions. Promoting Axar Patel and Harshit Rana ahead of Tilak Varma and Shivam Dube in the third T20I suggested a side looking for answers rather than following a plan.

IPL hangover?

Indian batting seems conditioned by IPL cricket, where flat pitches reward relentless aggression. In England and Ireland, where shifting seams requires patience, they persisted in high-risk play, leading to repeated collapses. Tilak Varma and Ishan Kishan showed promise but struggled for consistency.

The Samson-Sooryavanshi dilemma

Sanju Samson’s dismissal after scores of 5, 0 and 1 in favor of 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi also came under scrutiny. The teenager’s scores of 14 and 13 highlight the challenge of being exposed to tough overseas conditions so early in his career.

Unsolicited totals

Care about execution

Ravi Bishnoi’s expensive spell at Old Trafford, where he conceded 60 runs and bowled three back-foot no-balls, reflected India’s bigger problems.For now, coach Gambhir’s search for a transition is understandable. But a successful reset requires clarity.Right now, India seem caught between two identities — trying to replicate the fearless cricket of their World Cup-winning team without the experience that made it possible.