The fifth T20I between England and India today (July 11) was delayed by half an hour after team India were stuck in traffic getting into the ground.
India had already lost the series, having come up short in the second, third and fourth games following a washout in the first. The toss in Southampton took place 45 minutes behind schedule, with India opting to to bowl first. No overs were lost as a result of the delay, with the game pushed back by half an hour.
It was not only the India players who were delayed by the traffic. The shuttle bus which takes fans from Southampton Airport Parkway station to the venue reportedly took almost an hour to complete the 3.8 mile journey. There is one access road into the Utilita Bowl, with most fans opting to use the shuttle bus service.
So England are here, but India are not.
— Cameron Ponsonby (@cameronponsonby) July 11, 2026
Delayed start as the tourists stuck in traffic.
The 3.8 mile shuttle bus from the station took 57 minutes. One road services a whole stadium. Ashes Test here next year. pic.twitter.com/kl3SaDcz5j
That being said, this is not the first instance of teams being stuck in traffic before a game. In June 2025, before the start of the third ODI against England, the West Indies team bus was stuck in heavy traffic in London. As a result, the toss was delayed by 40 minutes. England were also delayed in getting to that match, but opted to abandon attempting to get to the ground on the team bus, and instead used Lime Bikes to cut through the traffic.
India and England compete for No.1 status
Shreyas Iyer's side are still searching for victory, having lost five T20Is in a row since the Ireland series. Sanju Samson has returned to the side for the final game, replacing Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, while Suryansh Shedge has come in for Washington Sundar.
After opening the batting with Samson in the first two T20Is of the series, the management brought in Sooryavanshi to make his debut. However, after two matches, he was swapped out for Samson.
If India suffer another defeat in the fifth T20I, they will lose their No.1 ranking in T20I cricket, with England taking up the spot. However, the visitors are yet to lose a men's T20I match in Southampton.
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