'Bring back Sanju Samson, Suryakumar Yadav': Shreyas Iyer's captaincy under fire after India's worst-ever T20I defeat

‘Bring back Sanju Samson, Suryakumar Yadav’: Shreyas Iyer’s captaincy under fire after India’s worst-ever T20I defeat originally appeared on Cricket News.
Add Cricket News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

KEY TAKEAWAYS:

• England thrash India by 125 runs, India’s biggest-ever T20 defeat.
• Jofra Archer and Josh Tongue skittle India for 76; England lead series 2-0.
• Fans slam India’s batting collapse and question Shreyas Iyer’s captaincy online.

India left shell-shocked as England hand out their heaviest T20 beating ever

Trent Bridge witnessed a one-sided demolition as England crushed India in the third T20 international, taking a commanding 2-0 lead in the five-match series with two games still to play.

The scale of the defeat left the visitors reeling, and there was little anyone in blue could do to arrest the slide once the England pace attack got going.

India’s batting order simply had no answers to the hostile bowling of Jofra Archer and Josh Tongue. Even teenage sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, who has been the talk of the tournament, couldn’t find a way through, falling for just 13 to a well-directed short ball as part of Archer’s three-wicket haul that cost only 29 runs.

Archer 🆚 Sooryavanshi

Jofra strikes! ☝️

Match Centre: https://t.co/ZWzBgf1rTwpic.twitter.com/Bd44HUbJZB

— England Cricket (@englandcricket) July 7, 2026

Inside the first five overs, India had already slumped to 52 for 5, effectively putting the result beyond doubt long before the innings ended. Tongue, playing on his home turf, was equally destructive, picking up four wickets for 28 runs.

By the time the innings folded in just 11.4 overs for a paltry 76, India had recorded their second-lowest total in the format’s history, and a defeat by 125 runs that now stands as their heaviest ever in T20 cricket.

With the latest loss, India under Iyer’s captaincy have gone five consecutive games without a win for the first time in T20Is. They are yet to win a single game under the new leader after succumbing to a 0-2 loss to Ireland on the first leg of the UK tour.

MORE: India vs England 3rd T20I 2026 result, highlights and scorecard as IND slump to a 125-run defeat

Clamour for Sanju Samson is bound to grow

The scale of the loss triggered a wave of reaction on social media. Aaj Tak/Sports Tak anchor Vikrant Gupta suggested the demand for recalling players like Sanju Samson and Suryakumar Yadav would only intensify, describing the team as being in complete disarray with nowhere to hide.

He wrote: “Leave alone the Bring Back Sanju Samson, even the Bring Back Surya Kumar Yadav clamour will grow now. India have been annihilated and there is hiding for none. We are officially in tatters.” 

Leave alone the Bring Back Sanju Samson, even the Bring Back Surya Kumar Yadav clamour will grow now.
India have been annihilated and there is hiding for none. We are officially in tatters #IndvsEng

— Vikrant Gupta (@vikrantgupta73) July 7, 2026

Journalist Ben Jones sarcastically likened the batting effort to a farewell tribute for Ben Stokes’ final Test innings.

“Touching tribute to Ben Stokes’ final Test innings from India here,” he said. 

Touching tribute to Ben Stokes’ final Test innings from India here

— Ben Jones (@benjonescricket) July 7, 2026

MORE: ABD predicts Sooryavanshi could say he’s ‘not interested in Test cricket’

@FarziCricketer wrote: “We are cooked. Even Jofra Archer couldn’t believe he got Shreyas Iyer out on a trash delivery.”

We are cooked. Even Jofra Archer couldn’t believe he got Shreyas Iyer out on a trash delivery. pic.twitter.com/llnzwcxzTT

— Silly Point (@FarziCricketer) July 7, 2026

@GabbbarSingh aded: “Shreyas Iyer quietly sliding in another loss while the World talks about Argentina & Egypt.”

Shreyas Iyer quietly sliding in another loss while the World talks about Argentina & Egypt.

— Gabbar (@GabbbarSingh) July 7, 2026

@AhmedGT_ hammered in: “This is what happens when you select a fraud player like Shreyas Iyer as captain based on PR.”

This is what happens when you select a fraud player like Shreyas Iyer as captain based on PR. pic.twitter.com/66Vsy7M7f3

— Ahmed Says (@AhmedGT_) July 7, 2026

A wake-up call India can’t ignore

This defeat isn’t just a bad day at the office, but it’s a pattern that needs urgent attention. A total of 76 against quality pace bowling exposes a fragility that India can’t keep brushing aside, especially with a World Cup cycle ahead.

The criticism of Iyer’s captaincy may feel harsh, but results like this invite exactly that scrutiny; leadership is judged on performance, not potential.

Equally, dismissing calls to recall experienced players like Samson or Suryakumar Yadav would be short-sighted, given the current top order’s brittle performance under pressure.

India still has two games to salvage pride, but the bigger conversation about batting depth and leadership clarity is now unavoidable.

For all the latest cricket news, opinion, and commentary, and to share your voice, head to our Facebook, Instagram, and X (Twitter) pages.