India will aim to finish the T20I series on a positive note when they face England in the fifth and final match

BRISTOL, England (AP) — India lurched deeper into a crisis in cricket's Twenty20 format after slumping to a second straight series loss, with England taking an insurmountable 3-0 lead on the back of destructive half-centuries by Phil Salt and Harry Brook.

Ireland, led by Lorcan Tucker, made history by beating back-to-back T20 World champions India in the first T20I at Belfast - their first-ever win against the Men in Blue in international cricket.

England will host India in the opening T20I of the five-match series at the Riverside Ground in Chester-le-Street on Wednesday, July 1. The match marks the first meeting between the two sides since the T20 World Cup 2026 semifinal and offers both teams an opportunity to gain an early advantage in the series.

India captain Shreyas Iyer said his T20 world champions were in "transition" after another heavy defeat saw England complete a series-clinching success in Bristol on Thursday. But India still suffered a record fifth straight T20 defeat following their shock 2-0 series loss away to Ireland.

Discover who Gurnoor Brar is as he makes his India debut in white-ball cricket during the IND vs AFG 1st ODI. Get insights into his domestic journey, bowling strengths, and what his selection means for India’s future in limited-overs cricket.

Congress MP and noted cricket enthusiast Shashi Tharoor delivered a scathing verdict on India's latest T20I collapse after England sealed an emphatic 3-0 series victory, saying he was left "speechless" by yet another humiliating defeat.