The Mumbai massacre is now in the books, but England will hope they don’t find themselves on this unwanted list again anytime soon!
A full-packed Wankhede Stadium, a high-scoring belter of a surface, and a merciless Indian team aiming to wrap out the T20I series in style. On the other hand, England walked into a storm they could not withstand. The Britishers were pummelling, wounded, and hustled out for only 97, gifting the World Champion India a crushing 150-run victory—the ‘second-heaviest defeat by runs suffered by a full-member side in T20I history’.
With this devastating victory, India secured the series 4-1, thanks to Abhishek Sharma’s record-breaking 135 off 54 balls, an innings that sliced through England’s bowling attack like a hot knife through butter. The visitors were treated to an unbelievable horror show with the bat. Despite Phil Salt’s blistering 21-ball fifty, the remainder of the batting order fell as Varun Chakravarthy and Mohammed Shami wreaked havoc. England’s collapse was not just surprising; it was historic, putting them on a pretty unwanted list of T20I defeats.
England’s 150-run defeat may be embarrassing, but they are not the only team to have suffered heavy losses in T20Is. Let us travel back in time and revisit some of the most devastating defeats by a run margin in the game’s shortest format.
When India sets the tone, records are sure to tumble. In February 2023, at the Narendra Modi Stadium, India amassed a formidable 234/4 thanks to Shubman Gill’s splendid 126*. In reply, New Zealand was thoroughly outclassed. Hardik Pandya and his teammates wreaked havoc, reducing them to 66 in just 12.1 overs. What was the outcome? A remarkable 168-run defeat, the largest loss in T20I history for a full-member team.
England’s most recent disaster ranks second. Chasing 248, they began with fireworks, owing to Salt’s blitz, but quickly lost momentum as India’s spinners and seamers turned the screws. Their innings lasted just 10.3 overs and collapsed like a house of cards. In one night, Mumbai witnessed England’s worst.
PAK welcomed the West Indies to Karachi in April 2018 and provided them with a sharp reminder of how harsh subcontinental conditions can be. Chasing 204, the Windies collapsed for 60 in 13.4 overs. PAK’s bowlers—led by Mohammed Amir and Mohammed Nawaz—ensured no turning back. The West Indies had no replies and suffered a 143-run defeat.
When India visited Ireland in June 2018, they brought a storm with them. KL Rahul’s 70 and Suresh Raina’s 69 helped India reach 213/4, and the Irish batting order couldn’t keep up. Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal wove a web, limiting Ireland to just 70 runs and delivering a humiliating 143-run loss.
The Windies make their second appearance on this list, this time with England as their tormentors. In March 2019, Sam Billings’ swashbuckling 87 drove England to 182/6 in Basseterre. The Windies were bundled out for 45 in 11.5 overs, resulting in complete devastation. Chris Jordan’s scorching spell (4-6) led England to a surprise 137-run win.
