Buttler, Brook crush hapless India as England become new number 1 T20I team

England completed a comprehensive 4-0 series victory over India, following another ruthless display in the fifth T20I on Saturday, July 11, at the Rose Bowl, Southampton. The Three Lions registered a dominating 56-run victory to complete a remarkable series win, which also catapulted them to the top of the ICC T20I team rankings.

After being put in to bat first, England posted the highest-ever T20I total against India, scoring 257/3 in their allotted 20 overs. Jos Buttler bounced back to form, scoring a breathtaking century, while Harry Brook continued his prollific run, scoring 95* (45). For India, Shivam Dube (2/22, 1 over) emerged as the pick of the bowlers, taking two wickets. 

In reply, India put on an improved batting performance, reaching 201/8 in their 20 overs, courtesy of half-centuries from Ishan Kishan (56 off 35) and Tilak Varma (53 off 25). However, it wasn't enough to overhaul England's humongous score.

Sam Curran was once again clinical with the ball for England, taking three wickets, while Adil Rashid (2/24) also chipped in with two wickets, playing his 150th T20I match.

As a result, India suffered a clean sweep in a T20I series for the first time in their history and also slipped down from the number one position in the ICC T20I rankings, having held the position since February, 2022. Meanwhile, India's winless streak extended to seven matches under Shreyas Iyer's leadership, another first in their cricketing history.

Top run-scorer of the Match

Top wicket-taker of the Match

Player of the Match

Jos Buttler was deservedly adjudged Player of the Match for his sensational hundred. He had the responsibility to take the scoreboard forward after losing his opening partner, Philip Salt (6 off 9), cheaply. The star opener hadn’t scored a half-century in his last 18 T20I innings and made amends for his prolonged lean patch. He completed his fifty off 34 balls and brought up his century off 51 deliveries. Buttler was finally dismissed on 131 (64) after smashing 12 fours and eight sixes.

On the other hand, Harry Brook was adjudged Player of the Series after finishing as the leading run scorer with 229 runs from four innings at an average of 114.50 and a strike rate of 214.01.

Turning Point

India had hoped to make early inroads into the England batting lineup after Arshdeep Singh removed Philip Salt in the second over. However, all their hopes were crushed by Harry Brook and Jos Buttler, who stitched a massive 233-run stand for the second wicket off 102 balls. The duo registered the second-highest partnership in T20Is among full-member nations.

India were once again lethargic in the field as Shivam Dube misjudged a catch from Harry Brook when he was batting on three. The England captain was again dropped on 90, while Buttler was given a reprieve on 101. As a result, India were left playing catch-up cricket after England posted a monumental score on the board.

What did the captains say:

Winning Captain, Harry Brook (England): 

A lot of fun batting with Jos. Cricket is a simple game, we make it complicated. Extremely happy with the World No.1 ranking. The boys deserve a bit of celebration.

Losing Captain, Shreyas Iyer (India): 

There's a lot to take. Especially the conditions, the awareness. It's all about adaptation I feel. Conditions kept changing from match one. As professionals we need to learn. It's important that we communicate as much as possible about what we could've done better. Fielding plays a key role in winning matches. When you come overseas, the dimensions of the grounds are different. Need to adapt. Especially on the track, which was a belter, we could've probably bluffed. But we also dropped a couple of catches. Could've been chasing 220-225. Unfortunately we couldn't get that opportunity. We lost (wickets) in clusters. I felt their execution in bowling was spot on. And they've played a lot of cricket over here. Sensational batting by Buttler and then Harry came in.. we dropped a couple of catches and that could've changed the rhythm of the game.