India’s bowling attack has come under scrutiny after opposition teams registered four of their highest-ever totals against the country in men’s T20I cricket during 2026. New Zealand, England and West Indies have all breached the 240-run mark, exposing concerns over India’s ability to contain aggressive batting line-ups.
New Zealand holds the record for the highest T20I total against India, scoring 259 in 2026. England is next on the list with 257, while West Indies feature twice, having posted 252 and 247 during the same calendar year.
Highest totals against India in men’s T20Is
| Team | Total | Year |
|---|---|---|
| New Zealand | 259 | 2026 |
| England | 257 | 2026 |
| West Indies | 252 | 2026 |
| West Indies | 247 | 2026 |
The numbers highlight a concerning pattern for India. Three different opponents have managed to breach the 240-run mark, with West Indies achieving the feat twice. Such high totals point towards persistent issues in India’s bowling attack, particularly when opposition batters go on the offensive.
India’s challenge will be to find greater control across all phases of an innings. The new-ball bowlers need to restrict early scoring, the middle-overs attack must prevent partnerships from gathering momentum, and the death bowlers need to execute their plans under pressure.
The frequency of these high-scoring contests also puts greater responsibility on Shreyas Iyer and the team management to assess their bowling combinations and identify areas that need improvement.
India’s batting depth gives them the ability to compete in high-scoring encounters, but consistently chasing totals above 240 is a difficult proposition. As Iyer continues his captaincy stint, strengthening the bowling attack will be among the biggest challenges facing the team.
