Former Indian wicketkeeper batsman Dinesh Karthik asked the management of the Gautam Gambhir-led team after pacer Harshit Rana was promoted Shivam Dube during India’s crushing defeat in the third T20I against England at Trent Bridge. India’s chase of 202 was quickly done after Axar Patel was dismissed off the last ball in the fifth over, leaving the visitors at 52/5. Instead of sending in Dube, the team management opted to promote Harshit Rana, a move that backfired Karthik surprised when they are comments. “Are you serious? Harshit Rana ahead of Shivam Dube? You can’t be serious,” Karthik said on air. Dube came to the crease two overs later but failed to save the innings, scoring just two runs in four overs before being dismissed by Josh Tongue. Karthik admitted he could not understand the decision to delay Dube’s arrival, saying it raised questions about the team’s confidence in all players. “Do they (team management) not trust Dube enough to send him now? Instead, they will promote Harshit Rana ahead of him. I am not sure this is the right way,” he added. The selection call came during one of India’s worst batting performances. England piled up 201/7 with Phil Salt leading the way with 70 off 44 balls, while Sam Curran chipped in with 41 off just 24 balls at Trent Bridge. India’s reply was unsuccessful despite Vaibhav Sooryavanshi hitting two sixes in the first 13 overs off five balls. The visitors collapsed from 23/0 to 76 all out in 11.4 overs, Josh Tongue taking 4/28 and Jofra Archer picking 3/29. The 125-run defeat was India’s highest total by runs in a T20 international, surpassing their massive 80-run loss against New Zealand in 2019. It also marked India’s second-lowest total in the tournament. The defeat gave England a 2-0 lead in the five-match series after the opening game. India have now lost their last four T20Is, following a 2-0 defeat in Ireland. Captain Shreyas Iyer he described the game as “bad” after the game and admitted his side needed to “get back on the board.” England captain Harry Brook praised his side’s overall display, saying, “We adapted well to batting. To take that into the bowling was amazing.” India now need to win the remaining two matches to remain unbeaten in the T20I series.
