India captain Shreyas Iyer did not hold back while assessing his team’s performance after England handed the visitors their biggest-ever defeat by runs in T20 Internationals. Following the crushing 125-run loss at Trent Bridge, Iyer described India’s display as “atrocious” and admitted the team failed to execute its plans in all departments.

England posted a competitive 201/7 before dismantling India’s batting line-up, bowling them out for just 76 in 11.4 overs to move 2-0 ahead in the five-match T20I series after the opening game was washed out.

India register their heaviest T20 defeat

Chasing 202, India struggled from the outset against England’s pace attack. Jofra Archer and Josh Tongue consistently generated high pace and troubled the top order with the new ball.

Tongue produced career-best figures of 4/28, while Archer picked up 3/29 as India were bundled out for their second-lowest T20I total. The defeat surpassed India’s previous biggest T20 loss by runs, an 80-run defeat against New Zealand in 2019.

The result also came after India suffered a 2-0 T20I series defeat against Ireland last month.

Iyer admits India’s execution was poor

Speaking after the match, Iyer criticised his team’s overall approach and execution.

“It was atrocious. I can’t use a better word. Losing by such a big margin isn’t acceptable,” the India skipper said.

He acknowledged that England’s bowlers exploited the surface effectively but admitted India failed to respond.

According to Iyer, the batting unit could not build partnerships or establish a clear approach during the chase, leading to a rapid collapse.

England dominate with bat and ball

Earlier in the evening, Phil Salt anchored England’s innings with a well-made 70 after Jos Buttler had provided an aggressive start with 36. Salt accelerated after a cautious beginning, reaching his half-century in 36 deliveries, while Sam Curran remained unbeaten on 41 to help England cross the 200-run mark.

England captain Harry Brook praised Salt’s contribution and credited the bowlers for executing simple but effective plans with the new ball.

India’s innings never recovered after early wickets. Abhishek Sharma, Vaibhav Sooryavanshi and Ishan Kishan all departed cheaply before Archer dismissed both Iyer and Axar Patel to leave the visitors reeling. Will Jacks, Adil Rashid and Tongue shared the remaining wickets as England completed a comprehensive victory.

India look to bounce back in fourth T20I

Despite the heavy defeat, Iyer urged his teammates to move on quickly and focus on the remaining matches.

He said the team had played poor cricket but viewed the next game as an opportunity to respond positively and learn from the mistakes made in Nottingham.

England can seal the series with another victory in the fourth T20I at Bristol.

Cristiano Ronaldo’s FIFA World Cup journey came to an emotional conclusion as Portugal suffered a narrow defeat to Spain in the Round of 16 of the 2026 tournament. The result ended the veteran forward’s hopes of lifting football’s biggest prize and marked his final appearance at a World Cup.

Ahead of the knockout clash, Ronaldo confirmed that the 2026 edition would be the last World Cup of his career. The Portuguese captain appeared confident before the contest, but the match unfolded very differently as Portugal struggled to break down Spain’s defence.

Portugal’s campaign ends in heartbreak

Portugal entered the tournament with high expectations after an impressive qualification campaign and a squad featuring several established international players. The team was regarded as one of the contenders before the competition began.

However, Portugal found it difficult to consistently produce convincing performances during the tournament. Ronaldo remained the focal point of the attack, but the experienced striker was unable to make the decisive impact fans had hoped for.

Against Spain, Ronaldo registered only 19 touches and managed two shots on target, although neither seriously troubled the goalkeeper. As Portugal searched for a breakthrough, Spain found the decisive goal in stoppage time through Mikel Merino, sealing a dramatic victory.

Following the final whistle, Ronaldo was seen leaving the field in tears as teammates and supporters reflected on the end of an era.

A World Cup career filled with milestones

Ronaldo’s World Cup career began in 2006 and spanned six editions of the tournament. During that period, he set several notable records, including becoming the first player to score in six different FIFA World Cups.

He also finished as Portugal’s highest World Cup goalscorer, ending his career with 11 goals in the competition. However, knockout-stage success remained limited, with Portugal never progressing beyond the quarter-finals during his six World Cup campaigns.

His only knockout-stage World Cup goal came during the 2026 Round of 32 victory over Croatia, where he converted a penalty before being substituted. Goncalo Ramos later scored the winning goal to send Portugal into the Round of 16.

An emotional farewell

Although Ronaldo’s club and international career has featured remarkable achievements, including hundreds of goals and numerous major trophies, winning the FIFA World Cup remained an elusive ambition.

Portugal’s defeat to Spain closed the final chapter of Ronaldo’s World Cup story, bringing an emotional end to one of the most celebrated international careers in football history.

Indian cricket witnessed the beginning of a new era as teenage batting sensation Vaibhav Sooryavanshi made his senior international debut, becoming the youngest player ever to represent India in men’s or women’s cricket.

The left-handed batter received his maiden India cap ahead of the second T20I against England in Manchester. At 15 years and 99 days, Sooryavanshi broke a long-standing national record previously held by cricket legend Sachin Tendulkar, who made his international debut at the age of 16 years and 205 days in 1989.

The milestone also saw Sooryavanshi overtake Shafali Verma, who had been India’s youngest international debutant overall after making her debut at 15 years and 239 days.

Historic moment for Indian cricket

The young opener’s debut had been eagerly anticipated ever since he was included in India’s squads for the Ireland and England T20I series.

Although he did not feature in the matches against Ireland, India initially continued with the experienced opening pair of Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma for the opening T20I against England. Following Samson’s struggles with the bat, discussions around Sooryavanshi’s inclusion intensified.

The Indian team management eventually decided to hand the youngster his opportunity, with captain Shreyas Iyer and head coach Gautam Gambhir backing the teenager for his first international appearance. The debut cap was presented to him by Tilak Verma before the Manchester encounter.

Youngest men’s debutants for India

Following his debut, Sooryavanshi now tops the list of India’s youngest men’s international debutants.

• Vaibhav Sooryavanshi – 15 years, 99 days (vs England, July 4, 2026)
• Sachin Tendulkar – 16 years, 205 days (vs Pakistan, November 15, 1989)
• Piyush Chawla – 17 years, 75 days
• Laxman Sivaramakrishnan – 17 years, 118 days
• Parthiv Patel – 17 years, 152 days
• Maninder Singh – 17 years, 193 days

While Sooryavanshi now holds the record for India’s youngest international debutant, Pakistan’s Hasan Raza remains the youngest men’s Test debutant globally at 14 years and 227 days. Romania’s Marian Gherasim continues to hold the record as the youngest international cricketer overall, having debuted in T20Is at 14 years and 16 days.

Shreyas Iyer backs the young opener

Speaking before the match, captain Shreyas Iyer expressed confidence in the youngster’s temperament and ability to perform at the highest level.

Iyer said Sooryavanshi had consistently impressed during training, adding that the teenager deserved his opportunity after displaying fearless batting and showing no signs of pressure despite his age.

IPL heroics paved the way

Sooryavanshi’s selection followed a remarkable IPL 2026 campaign for the Rajasthan Royals, where he emerged as the tournament’s highest run-scorer.

He accumulated 776 runs at a strike rate of 237.30, registering one century and five half-centuries while smashing 72 sixes. His performances earned him multiple individual honours, including the Orange Cap, Most Valuable Player, Emerging Player, Super Striker, and Super Sixes awards.

Strong performances across formats

The teenager has also impressed in domestic and age-group cricket.

During the recent tri-series involving Sri Lanka A and Afghanistan A, he scored 211 runs in five innings, including a match-winning 94 in the final. He also recorded the fastest fifty in List A cricket by reaching the milestone in just 11 balls against Sri Lanka A.

His record in youth cricket has been equally impressive. Sooryavanshi finished as the leading run-scorer at the Under-19 World Cup with 439 runs in seven matches, helping India lift the title. He also set a tournament record by hitting 30 sixes.

Across youth ODIs, he has accumulated 1,412 runs at an average of 56.48, while his T20 numbers include 1,477 runs from 34 innings at a strike rate above 220.

In the IPL, the youngster has already crossed the 1,000-run mark in just 23 innings, underlining the promise that has made him one of India’s brightest emerging talents.

With his record-breaking debut now complete, Indian cricket fans will be hoping that Vaibhav Sooryavanshi’s international journey lives up to the enormous expectations surrounding one of the country’s most exciting young prospects.