India’s campaign in the five-match T20I series against England hit a new low after a crushing 125-run defeat in the third match at Trent Bridge, Nottingham, on July 7. Chasing 202, Shreyas Iyer’s side folded for just 76 in 11.4 overs, handing England a commanding 2-0 lead in the series. With the fourth T20I set to be played at the County Ground in Bristol on July 9, the visitors now face a must-win contest to keep the series alive.

Former India wicketkeeper Parthiv Patel was highly critical of India’s all-round performance, stating that almost nothing went according to plan after the team won the toss. Speaking on JioStar’s Game Plan, Patel said the defeat was not simply about the margin but about the lack of planning, poor execution, sloppy fielding and an inexplicable batting collapse. “Given how the game went, I think only the toss went in India’s favour. After that, nothing went according to plan for them. It looked like there was only one team that turned up on the day,” Patel said.

He felt England’s total of 201 was challenging but certainly within reach for a batting lineup filled with experienced T20 players. According to Patel, India’s biggest disappointment was the way they approached the chase rather than the target itself.

“A total of 200 wasn’t out of reach. Yes, it was a good score, but it wasn’t as though England had scored 260 or 270, from where it would have been impossible to win. The thing that disappointed me the most was the planning, how India started, the fielding, and, obviously, the batting collapse, which is very difficult to explain,” he added.

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Looking ahead to the fourth T20I in Bristol, Patel urged India’s batters to display better game awareness instead of trying to attack from the very first ball. He stressed that adapting to English conditions is crucial, especially on pitches that offer movement and variable bounce.

“I would like to see a better understanding of the game and a bit more game awareness from the Indian batters in Bristol. Yes, there are 200 runs on the board, but these are all experienced T20 batters. You can afford to take one or two overs to get your eye in. The conditions are different, the wickets aren’t as flat, and you have to get used to the ground dimensions and the pace of the wicket,” Parthiv Patel explained.

Patel also discussed the challenges facing 15-year-old opener Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who has repeatedly been tested by Jofra Archer’s hostile short-pitched bowling. The former India keeper believes every international fast bowler will continue targeting the youngster in a similar fashion until he proves he can consistently handle high pace and bounce.

“Not just Jofra Archer, I think anyone who watched the IPL would not be surprised that there is a deliberate plan to bowl short to Vaibhav Sooryavanshi. As he progresses in his international career, he will continue to face this kind of bowling with deliveries above 145 km/hr. The question will be how he copes against short-pitched bowling because every bowler will look to target him there,” Parthiv Patel observed.

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The Gujarat Titans assistant coach also suggested one major change to India’s playing XI for the Bristol clash. He wants Sanju Samson to return at No. 3, followed by Ishan Kishan and Shreyas Iyer, while Shivam Dube makes way for the wicketkeeper-batter.

Patel argued that India’s top order currently lacks the right balance because of the heavy presence of left-handers. In his view, Samson’s inclusion would provide greater variety and improve the team’s flexibility against England’s bowling attack. While recommending this batting change, Patel said he would retain the same bowling unit, believing the bigger issue lies with India’s batting approach rather than its attack.