England captain acknowledges India’s dominance, praises Abhishek Sharma’s stunning century, and vows to improve after a 4-1 series defeat.
Jos Buttler Admits Disappointment After 4-1 Series Loss to India, Hails Abhishek Sharma’s Stunning Knock
Mumbai, February 3 – England captain Jos Buttler expressed disappointment after his team’s 150-run defeat to India in the 5th T20I at Wankhede Stadium, conceding that while England had its moments, they need to improve execution to match India’s strength.
The Men in Blue sealed the five-match series 4-1, with Abhishek Sharma delivering a record-breaking 135 off 54 balls to lead India’s commanding victory.
Buttler on England’s Performance & India’s Dominance
Speaking at the post-match presentation, Buttler credited India for their fantastic performance at home, while acknowledging his team’s need to execute better:
“We’re disappointed to lose the series, but we’ve done some things well and some things we want to improve on. We want to keep committing to this style of cricket and execute better.”
The England skipper also praised Abhishek Sharma’s breathtaking innings, calling it one of the best he has ever seen:
“I’ve seen a lot of cricket, and I thought Abhishek’s innings today was one of the best.”
Despite the one-sided defeat, Buttler found positives in England’s bowling unit:
“Some of the guys’ bowling performances were impressive – even today, Brydon Carse and Mark Wood were outstanding.”
Match Recap: Abhishek Sharma’s Explosive Knock Powers India to 247/9
🔹 Abhishek Sharma (135 off 54 balls, 7 fours, 13 sixes) played a record-breaking innings, registering the highest T20I score by an Indian, surpassing Shubman Gill’s 126 against New Zealand*.
🔹 India posted 247/9, with Brydon Carse (3 wickets) and Mark Wood (2 wickets) leading England’s bowling efforts.
England’s Batting Collapse: Bowled Out for 97
England crumbled under pressure, managing only 97 runs in 11 overs, with Philip Salt (55 off 23 balls) being the lone batter to put up resistance.
✅ India’s bowling attack shined once again, with Abhishek Sharma (3/14), Shivam Dube (3/20), and Varun Chakravarthy (3/16) dismantling England’s lineup.
India’s 150-run victory marked one of their biggest-ever T20I wins, highlighting their dominance across all departments.
Awards & Takeaways
🏆 Player of the Match – Abhishek Sharma (135 runs, 3 wickets)
🏆 Player of the Series – Varun Chakravarthy (Consistent bowling throughout the series)
India’s aggressive approach and all-round excellence send a strong message ahead of the T20 World Cup, while England will look to regroup and refine their strategy.