'That's how you build confidence' - Anil Kumble on India's playing XI for 4th T20I between India and England

While India have remained winless in their last five T20Is and are trailing 0-2 in the five-match series against England, Anil Kumble has urged the team management to back the players. The former India leg-spinner urged India to stick to the same XI players who played the third T20I on Tuesday, July 7, at Trent Bridge, Nottingham.

India suffered a crushing 125-run defeat in the third T20I against England as they were bowled out for 76 while chasing a 202-run target. One of the players who have underperformed massively is Tilak Varma, who was appointed vice-captain of the T20I team ahead of the preceding Ireland series.

In the last five innings, Tilak has only aggregated 114 runs at an average of 28.50 and a strike rate of 111.76. However, Kumble advised the Gautam Gambhir-led Indian team management to back the left-handed batter and give him and the other players confidence.

"I don't think you would want to make any changes. That's how you build confidence. He is the vice-captain. You have given him a responsibility, and I feel he should just be given another opportunity," Kumble responded when asked if India should make any changes in the playing XI for the fourth T20I, especially considering Tilak's insipid performances against England, on JioHotstar.

The former India captain also mentioned that the Men in Blue shouldn't change their bowling plans too much based on the size of the boundaries.

"It's just a matter of building faith and trying to plan in terms of reflecting on what could have been done, and ensuring that you start with that with the bowling. I thought India just went about looking at the boundaries and bowled to that side. One was slightly bigger. The other side was shorter. They went too early thinking that we have to bowl to the bigger boundary," Kumble observed.

"It's just the approach" - Anil Kumble on expectations from India in ENG vs IND 2026 4th T20I

Kumble suggested that India should look to adapt to the conditions at the County Ground in Bristol, the venue for the fourth T20I, and refrain from making too many changes in the batting order.

"It's just the approach, in terms of adapting to the conditions in Bristol, whatever is laid out for you, and ensuring that your best batters bat. You can't have two batters. One batter is fine," he said.

Dinesh Karthik slams Team India's questionable tactics

Also Read

Dinesh Karthik slams Team India's questionable tactics

Kumble also stated that the move to send Harshit Rana to bat ahead of Shivam Dube was wrong, especially after Axar Patel had already been promoted ahead of the seam-bowling all-rounder.

"Okay, you sent Axar Patel ahead once, and then you can't be sending Harshit Rana ahead of Shivam Dube when you are chasing 202. That's something that you are hoping for some miracle. That's not going to happen," Kumble observed.