India lose face, pride and World No.1 spot to England after Gautam Gambhir endures another cleansweep

Under Gautam Gambhir, India stooped to a new low. He oversaw India’s horrible struggles in Tests at home. India also lost ODI series against Sri Lanka and New Zealand under his tutelage. Gambhir never made mistakes in the shortest format until now. England have completely obliterated India to record their first-ever cleansweep win in T20Is, putting another big blemish in Gambhir’s coaching tenure with the senior team.

The Indian batters failed to adapt to the English conditions for the first four games. In fact, the batters, who decimated bowling attacks on Indian wickets in the last year or so, were nowhere to be found on some bouncy English decks. They were the reason why India lost the series. But now, in the final T20I, the bowling was taken to cleaners. Meanwhile, fielding was so bad that it would make club fielders look better.

Cricket

21 mins

Ravi Bishnoi to replace injured Varun Chakaravarthy in India vs Zimbabwe T20I series

1,605-day reign over for Team India

Jos Buttler broke India’s back in the final T20I in Southampton. He made a mind-boggling 200+ partnership with Harry Brook, who was unstoppable. India would be thankful that the 20 overs got completed somehow. Otherwise, it would’ve been deplorable for Shreyas Iyer and his side. You cannot be mistaken that it was a dead rubber. Nah, the England captain was adamant that they want to win the final T20I, not just to win the series 4-0 but to regain the top spot in the ICC’s T20I teams rankings.

And they did exactly that. After a historic period of 1605 days, which is basically around 4.4 years, India have been toppled in the ICC rankings. It is not a mean feat by England, who will cherish breaking the ultimate record set by a magnificent Indian team. Mind you, India are currently the last two T20 World Cup winners. England didn’t just beat India but also took their pride of being world beaters.

Not to mention, India were hammered by Ireland last month. But Gambhir’s side didn’t learn a single bit. If the last T20I was an anomaly where England crushed them within the first innings, India were always playing a catch-up game.

Unwanted streaks India attained under Gautam Gambhir

First-Ever 3+ match bilateral whitewash in T20Is (vs England 2026)
First-ever T20I series loss to England
Most matches lost in a single bilateral T20I series (vs England 2026)
After 27 years, India lost a bilateral ODI series vs Sri Lanka.
For the first time, India lost 30 wickets in a 3-match ODI series.
After 45 years, India remained winless in ODIs in a calendar year.
After 36 years, India lost a home Test vs New Zealand.
For the first time, India were bowled out for under 50 runs at home.
For the first time, India lost a home Test series vs New Zealand.
After 12 years, India lost a home Test series.
After 12 years, India lost back-to-back home Tests.
After 47 years, India lost three consecutive home Tests.
For the first time, India were whitewashed 3-0 in a home Test series.
After 10 years, India lost back-to-back Test series.
After 10 years, India lost the Border-Gavaskar Trophy.
Failed to qualify for the World Test Championship final for the first time.
India became the first team to lose a Test after scoring five centuries in the match (Leeds).
After 15 years, India lost a home Test against South Africa.
After 8 years, India lost an international match at Eden Gardens.
India failed to chase 124, their lowest unsuccessful chase at home.
After 25 years, India lost a home Test series against South Africa.
Registered their biggest Test defeat (by 408 runs).
After 30 years, India completed a home Test series without a single century from their batters.
For the first time, India were whitewashed in home Tests in back-to-back calendar years.
For the first time, India lost a home ODI series to New Zealand.
For the first time, India lost an international match against Ireland.
(Credit: @Shebas_10dulkar)