England created history by securing their first bilateral T20I series win over India in a contest with two or more matches following a nine-wicket win in the fourth T20I at the County Ground, Bristol.The win gave Harry Brook’s side an unassailable 3-0 lead in the five-match series after the opener was washed out, marking an important achievement against one of the strongest T20 teams in the world. The defeat also highlighted India’s recent struggles in the format. It was the first time since February 2019 that India had lost back-to-back bilateral T20I series, after trailing 2-0 in Ireland earlier this year. The latest instance came when India lost 2-1 in New Zealand before suffering a 2-0 home defeat against Australia in 2019.
Brook and Salt are rewriting the record books
England’s emphatic chase of 159 was fueled by an unbeaten 146-run stand between captain Harry Brook and opener Phil Salt, the fourth-highest partnership against India in T20I history and one of the biggest ever recorded in a successful chase.
Highest partnerships against India in T20Is
| Partnership | team | come on | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| 174* – Quinton de Kock & David Miller | South Africa | Guwahati | 2022 |
| 170* – Alex Hales & Jos Buttler | England | Adelaide (T20 World Cup SF) | 2022 |
| 152* – Babar Azam & Mohammad Rizwan | Pakistan | Dubai (T20 World Cup) | 2021 |
| 146 – Harry Brook and Phil Salt* | England | Bristol | 2026 |
| 133 – David Warner and Shane Watson | Australia | Colombo (T20 World Cup) | 2012 |
Brook remained unbeaten on 79, while Salt finished with 59 not out, as England chased down the target in just 13.5 overs, winning with 37 balls to spare.
One of England’s greatest hunts
The clinical prosecution has also entered the record books of England. The win was England’s second biggest by wickets remaining in a 150-plus chase, equaling their nine-wicket triumph over South Africa in a 192-run chase in Cape Town in 2020. Only England’s famous 10-wicket win over India in the 2022 T20, 1, 69 not out in the World Cup rank higher.Among the Full Member nations, England’s chase also became the joint-fourth fastest chase of a target of 150-plus in terms of balls remaining.
Most balls remaining in more than 150 successful chases (Full Members)
| Balls that remain | Match |
|---|---|
| 60 | India vs New Zealand, Guwahati (2026) |
| 43 | New Zealand vs South Africa, T20 World Cup 2026 |
| 37 | West Indies vs South Africa, Kingston (2024) |
| 37 | England vs India, Bristol (2026) |
| 33 | England vs Pakistan, Lahore (2022) |
Captains lead from the front
The Bristol contest also produced another rare step. It was the 37th men’s T20I in which both captains scored 50-plus, the 16th involving two Full Member nations, and the first between India and England.