Mohammed Kaif Slams India's Management After T20I Series Loss to England

Gautam Gambhir questioned after 0-4 defeat to England (Image: AP)

Following India's forgettable 0-4 T20I series defeat to England, former India batter Mohammed Kaif has launched a scathing attack on the team's management, questioning the handling of young sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and senior wicketkeeper-batter Sanju Samson. England completely outplayed India in the T20I leg of the white-ball tour, registering a dominant 4-0 series victory after the opening match was washed out. The defeat marked the first time India have lost four consecutive matches in a bilateral T20I series. Following the comprehensive triumph, England also replaced India as the No. 1-ranked T20I side in the latest ICC rankings. Reacting to the series, Kaif criticised the Indian team management, suggesting their decisions had dented the confidence of key players. "Never seen a more confused Indian cricket team management. The handling of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Sanju Samson has been far from professional. One is a generational talent, another a World Cup winner, they need to be given confidence, not doubts in their minds," Kaif wrote on X. After the opening T20I, Sanju Samson was replaced by Vaibhav Sooryavanshi for the second T20I. However, in the fifth T20I, Samson returned to the playing XI, replacing Vaibhav Sooryavanshi.

England dominate T20I series

The five-match series began with the opener at Chester-le-Street being abandoned without a result due to persistent rain. England then took control in the second T20I in Manchester, chasing down India's 190/7 with four wickets in hand. The match was notable for 15-year-old Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who became India's youngest-ever T20I debutant, surpassing Sachin Tendulkar's long-standing record. The third T20I in Nottingham proved disastrous for India as they were bundled out for just 76, their second-lowest total in T20I history, handing England a crushing 125-run victory. The hosts continued their dominance in Bristol, chasing India's 158/7 in only 13.5 overs to seal a one-sided nine-wicket win. England capped off the series in emphatic fashion at Southampton, where Jos Buttler's blistering 131 off 64 balls and Harry Brook's unbeaten 95 powered them to 257/3, the highest total ever conceded by India in T20I cricket. India responded with 201/8, with Ishan Kishan and Tilak Varma scoring half-centuries, but the visitors still fell 56 runs short. The two teams will now shift their focus to the three-match ODI series, which gets underway on July 14.