3 Biggest concerns for Team India after England series

After a promising six‑wicket win in the ODI series opener at Edgbaston in Birmingham, things unravelled quickly for Team India as they lost the decider at Lord's on Sunday, ending their nearly month‑long UK tour without a series win.

The tour began with a two‑match T20I series against Ireland. It was supposed to be a cakewalk for the Men in Blue, but proved anything but that.

The lack of time to acclimatise in Ireland cost India the series, and they carried that losing momentum into the five‑match T20I series against England. The ODIs were where India came close to competing and looked like winning, before a lacklustre bowling display in the decider cost them the chance to finish on the right side of the result.

On that note, let’s look at three major concerns that have emerged from India’s UK tour:

#1 Fitness

Fitness, or the lack of it, has plagued India and is dragging them down. Shubman Gill was peeved with the absence of first‑choice players for the ODI series decider at Lord's. He has called for better fitness standards as India keep an eye on the ODI World Cup 2027 in Southern Africa.

Several first‑choice players were unavailable for selection at some stage during the tour, and it reflected in the results.

1. Nitish Kumar Reddy (quadriceps)
2. Harshit Rana (Grade 1 hamstring injury)
3. Varun Chakravarthy (Grade II hamstring injury)
4. Washington Sundar (hamstring injury)
5. Jasprit Bumrah (knee injury)

#2 Quality of India’s bowling reserves

India’s bowling reserves were tested during the UK tour, and the outcomes, fair to say, were not very encouraging. Gurnoor Brar, brought in for his pace, looked all over the place. He recorded the most expensive figures (0/97) by an Indian in an ODI outside home. Overall, he leaked 225 runs in three matches, averaging 56.25 at an economy rate of 7.75.

Prince Yadav claimed two wickets in the T20Is against England, averaging 59.00 at an economy rate of 10.72. He conceded 79 runs in his 10 overs in the ODI series decider, with just one wicket.

Prasidh Krishna's lack of control was evident in the T20Is against England. He snared a solitary scalp in two games at an average of 64.00 and an economy rate of 9.14. Krishna also failed to stem the flow of runs at Lord's.

Arshdeep, drafted into the playing XI in the third ODI to add experience to the seam attack, also looked ordinary. He ended with 0/72 in his 10 overs.

What is also concerning is India’s lack of a Plan B once a partnership is established. They had no answers to the Liam Dawson-Joe Root stand at Edgbaston, and it was the same story when Jacob Bethell and Ben Duckett came hard at them at Lord's. 

Similarly, India were dumbfounded when the pair of Jos Buttler and Harry Brook took the attack to them in the fifth T20I at the Rose Bowl in Southampton.

#3 Lack of adaptability in overseas conditions

India’s batters seem to have mastered the art of batting on flat tracks, largely due to their exposure to such pitches in the IPL. But they continue to struggle to adapt to overseas conditions. India’s batting has looked ordinary on pitches with a bit of life in them.

The Cardiff ODI serves as a prime example. In seamer‑friendly conditions, India’s batting order failed to stand up to the challenge and couldn’t even play out its full quota of overs.

Similarly, during the T20I series against England and also in Ireland, India’s batting faltered to the bounce and carry across venues, and the Men in Blue were humbled on both occasions.