Mohammad Amir makes fresh Abhishek Sharma admission

NEW DELHI: India suffered a big setback in the T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8 stage after losing badly to South Africa. Even though India had gone through the group stage without losing, the heavy 76-run defeat has made their path to the semi-finals much tougher. One major concern for the team is the poor form of opener Abhishek Sharma, who scored just 15 runs in the match after getting out for three ducks in a row earlier in the tournament.

Abhishek’s repeated failures at the top have put extra pressure on India’s middle order. Players like Ishan Kishan, Shivam Dube, and Suryakumar Yadav had handled that pressure in earlier matches, but they struggled against South Africa’s strong bowling attack.Former Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Amir has now given Abhishek some advice. Amir, who earlier called him a “slogger,” said Abhishek needs to play smarter and not attack blindly. “You must have seen that he scored 14 runs on the same side. All three of the boundaries he hit were off bad balls. He does have potential. He kept the same intent even after three ducks. But, as a senior player, my message to him would be that international cricket will expose your technique. If he brings a little patience and hits the ball where it is, it would be better. He has the skills; how he wants to utilise them is up to him,” Amir said on the show Haarna Mana Hai.Amir also said India are not as strong while chasing targets anymore. “India were exposed as they were chasing for the first time in this T20 World Cup. This isn’t a team that has Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. They handled the match as the situation demanded,” he said.He also criticised India’s team selection and strategy. “The biggest mistake India made was sending three left-handers at the top. Rinku doesn’t even get time to play. You benched Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel against batters who struggle against spinners. No matter how big a team you are, you won’t get results until you play the right combinations,” he asserted.

South Africa players celebrate the wicket of India’s Washington Sundar during the T20 World Cup cricket match in Ahmedabad. (AP)

TimesofIndia.com in Ahmedabad: “We’ve watched other games and it was nice to just have both left-handers, with the ball spinning away. It gives some sort of option where if it’s not turning it can go straight through the gate or if it does hold a little bit like it did, it gives you that hope that we can get a wicket in the first over.“Light giggles broke out in the press conference room when David Miller was asked about the plan to start with Aiden Markram. The South African batter’s response was what most reporters had heard before, in the same hall when the Netherlands’ Bas de Leede responded to a similar query. South Africa took a cue from the Netherlands, who must have been encouraged by how the game against Pakistan unfolded. The arch-rivals would have surely been encouraged by how Namibia’s Gerhard Erasmus bowled in the Delhi fixture.

Different venues, different teams but all kept the approach simple. Bring in an off-spinner early and wait for the Indian batters to make a mistake. And they did. The part-time off-spin bowling from Salman Agha and Markram secured early wickets in their respective matches and Erasmus applied the middle-overs choke, especially with many left-handers to bowl at. Netherlands Aryan Dutt followed the basics and removed both Ishan Kishan and Abhishek Sharma in the powerplay. Obsessed with match-ups, India have been way off the mark in the tactical battles.From poor shot selection and a lack of game awareness to having no Plan B, the T20I World Cup has been a very bumpy ride lacking any careful maneuvering. Panic was palpable in the dugout when Miller and Dewald Brevis put South Africa back on track, from being 20/3, and their calculated takedown of Varun Chakravarthy came as a rude shock to the think-tank. There was no one to apply that choke from the other end because the only bowler, Axar Patel, who was capable of doing that with his sharp game awareness and ability to deliver under pressure, was warming the bench.

Washington Sundar plays a shot during an ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 cricket match between India and South Africa. (PTI)

Washington Sundar, still an unproven commodity in the shortest format, was preferred because of the left-handers in the opposition camp. However, the moment two of them – Quinton de Kock and Ryan Rickelton – were dismissed early, the lack of a Plan B exposed India and Miller-Brevis were in the mood to capitalise. The defence mechanism regarding Washington over Axar was fully displayed in post-match pressers, but it lacked the conviction and logic which everyone was looking for.“We spent so much time deliberating about the XI, the last couple of days. And I guess the only way that it sort of didn’t play into our hands is if we did have the ideal start like we did today with getting Quinton and Rickelton out so early. We were kind of looking at matchups more in the middle. And then obviously, someone has to give way. So – do we leave a batter out and get another bowler in, in hindsight, that looks like the right decision? “But obviously, playing it forward and making decisions at the time, we felt we needed Rinku, as an eighth batsman, so to speak. And the decision was based around there. But certainly, it’s not to take anything away from Axar and his leadership and how important he is to the team. But look we face almost every week to try to squeeze 11 places into 15, We’re finding tricky. And we need to make sure we get that spot on for the next two Super 8 games,” said assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate.

David Miller and Dewald Brevis stitched a 97-run partnership during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8 Group 1 match against India. (ANI)

India complicated the Playing XI selection more than necessary, and captain Suryakumar Yadav wasn’t proactive enough to regain control while Miller and Brevis were scoring freely. Every bowler can have an off day, and Varun did. However, giving the extra over to Arshdeep Singh during the powerplay — a desperate move to take another wicket — probably backfired, as both he and Jasprit Bumrah were forced to bowl their remaining overs in the death.Had there been more cushion for the slog overs, one Bumrah over could have well made the difference in the middle-overs because the local boy was in a different mood at the Narendra Modi Stadium. His spell of 3/15 was the sole reason South Africa didn’t cross the 200-run mark. However, 187 proved to be far more than India would have liked in that chase and South Africa’s takedown of India’s X-factor, Varun, deserves significant appreciation.“He’s a world-class bowler and he has had huge success, in all different formats that he’s played, all different leagues and, yeah, especially international. So I think for us it was more just, I mean, it’s not like in the past where we’ve been quite tentative but I think it’s just about really making sure that we were on it in terms of if he bowls a bad ball we got to put it away – so a little bit more intent. “And it wasn’t spinning too much tonight, so you can kind of trust the line. And once we felt that, then we felt, OK, we’ve got to take him down, because he is a threat to every team that he does play against. So it was definitely something that we did speak about,” said Miller on their plans for Varun.

Jasprit Bumrah was one bright spark for India on an otherwise poor day against South Africa in the T20 World Cup Super Eight. (AP)

South Africa showed how and why India are very much “beatable.” Their emphatic win, which severely impacted the hosts’ net run rate has increased calls for a lot of soul searching before the next game against Zimbabwe in Chennai on Thursday. Ahead of the South Africa fixture, Surya was categorically asked about Sanju Samson‘s potential place in the Playing XI to add a right-hander to the mix but he chose to laugh the suggestion off. A day later, the conversations around the same thought are getting louder with coach Ryan confirming that the wicketkeeper-batter will remain a talking point leading up to the crucial games.Should you drop the woefully out-of-form Abhishek Sharma? Or a struggling-to-get-going Tilak Varma? The options are on the table and it looks extremely difficult for the two left-handers to retain their place in the XI for the Zimbabwe clash.“They’re all fantastic players. So you stick with the guys who we feel have performed really well over the last 18 months and who are maybe shy of a few runs now? Or do we twist and bring Sanju, who’s also a fantastic player and obviously helps tactically with having a right hander at the top of the order and I’m sure that’ll be a talking point over the next few days going into these two very important games,” explained ten Doeschate.India have some time to make that crucial call but if they stick to the left-is-right approach, it will be a no-brainer to see Sikandar Raza at the top of the bowling mark when India’s openers walk out to bat in Chennai. He, too, would have seen the previous games involving the defending champions and could well have a response similar to Miller at the end of the match. It’s all very predictable and the ball is now in India’s court to surprise their opponents with tactical smarts.

NEW DELHI: “Pakistan will play the final,” Pakistan allrounder Shadab Khan confidently told a fan, hinting at the Men in Green’s ambitions in the T20 World Cup 2026. The clip, now going viral on social media, sets the tone ahead of Pakistan’s Super Eights clash against England at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.“So, you are here till the semi-finals?” a fan asked, probably indicating the side’s matches in Sri Lanka.

In reply, Shadab says, “Till the final. Final, inshahallah.” The pitch in Pallekele is expected to assist slow bowlers, and both teams are likely to lean heavily on their spin attacks. England, two-time champions, may not have hit top gear yet, but they began their Super Eights campaign with a commanding 51-run win over Sri Lanka. That victory not only boosted their net run rate but also propelled them to the top of the standings. Defending a modest total, England’s spinners, supported by pacer Jofra Archer, triggered a dramatic collapse in the Sri Lankan batting lineup.Pakistan, on the other hand, were left frustrated after their opener against New Zealand was washed out, leaving them with a single point and little margin for error. They will rely on a varied spin arsenal, including the mystery spin of Usman Tariq and the experience of Saim Ayub, Abrar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, and Mohammad Nawaz, to stifle England’s batting.Batting consistency, however, remains a concern for Pakistan. While opener Sahibzada Farhan has impressed as the tournament’s leading run-scorer with 220 runs from four innings, others like Saim Ayub and captain Salman Agha are yet to fire decisively. A strong batting performance will be crucial if Pakistan are to overcome England’s balanced side.With stakes high, the clash promises a fascinating battle between England’s disciplined spin and Pakistan’s variety. Fans will be watching closely to see if Shadab Khan’s bold prediction of reaching the final can come true.

India’s Abhishek Sharma (PTI Photo/Gurinder Osan)

Former India captain Kris Srikkanth launched a scathing attack on the Indian batting unit following their crushing 76-run defeat to South Africa national cricket team in the T20 World Cup 2026 Super Eight clash in Ahmedabad.Chasing 188, India imploded spectacularly and were bundled out for 111 in the 19th over. The collapse was triggered early when in-form opener Ishan Kishan perished for a four-ball duck in the very first over, falling to the part-time off-spin of Aiden Markram.

Reacting to the reckless start, Srikkanth did not mince his words while speaking on his YouTube channel.“Ishan Kishan was almost caught at mid-on the previous delivery, yet he is slogging the next ball. Was it necessary to slog the next delivery? Rinku Singh only scores single digits wherever he comes to bat. It’s easy to play in bilateral series compared to ICC events. The batters will now second-guess their approach going forward. Abhishek Sharma already went from striker to non-striker in this match.”The former opener also questioned the team’s batting order, pointing fingers at Suryakumar Yadav for not taking more responsibility.“Suryakumar Yadav made a big mistake. He should have come in at No.3. He only said all the spots except the openers are flexible. This left-right combination is all rubbish. It’s what led to Hardik Pandya coming at 7. Only playing good cricket and your mentality matters.”Suryakumar walked in at No.4 with India tottering at 5/2 and managed just 18 off 22 deliveries. Meanwhile, Hardik Pandya was surprisingly pushed down to No.7, where he scored 18 from 17 balls.Srikkanth was particularly furious about the decision to send Washington Sundar ahead of established finishers when India were 26/3 in the fifth over. Sundar, promoted to No.5, made a laboured 11 off 11 balls as the chase slipped further away.“It was absolutely ridiculous. India were humiliated today on all fronts. It’s what we usually do to opponents, but the roles were reversed today. Hardik Pandya has done well in pressure situations at 5. He should have come in at No.5. Instead, they sent him at 7, which was totally unfair. Hardik Pandya coming in at No.7 was ridiculous decision-making,” said Srikkanth.He warned that the fallout from such a heavy defeat could linger.“The Indian batters’ mindsets will become further negative. India’s batting throughout the tournament has not been consistent. It’s just been bailed out by one or two players and even that went for a toss this match. Dube hit some sixes at the end, but it was all empty calories after the game was already over.”Apart from Shivam Dube’s 42, none of the Indian batters managed to cross 20, marking one of their most disappointing batting performances in recent memory and leaving their Super Eight campaign hanging in the balance.

Kuldeep Yadav (R) and skipper Suryakumar Yadav. (ANI Photo)

NEW DELHI: India’s heavy defeat to South Africa in the Super Eight stage of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup has triggered a blunt reality check, with former batter Sanjay Manjrekar urging the side to “be humble” and quickly address key flaws to stay in title contention.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!A dominant South Africa piled up 187/7 before bundling India out for just 111. The crushing loss not only dented India’s momentum but also exposed glaring tactical and technical weaknesses.

Reflecting on the defeat, Manjrekar said on his Instagram post, “A big defeat to India against South Africa. So, the first strong team that India has played, and they have not really coped well against that team. But the good news is that India is not out of the tournament.”He added that the loss could serve as a blessing in disguise if India respond correctly.“So what South Africa have done – and we have to be humble and respect the opposition and in a way thank them – is that they have shown us three areas of improvement that we can still work on and end up getting into the final rounds and hopefully win the title,” he said.Manjrekar identified India’s struggles against spin as the most pressing concern and called for a batting order reshuffle.“The first area of concern is an obvious one: India is struggling against spin. So how do you solve that? Try to rearrange the batting order in a way that naturally good players of spin are batting up the order, and people like Tilak Varma, who is struggling a little bit, can come down the order,” he said. He also flagged the team’s vulnerability against pace-off deliveries, including from captain Suryakumar Yadav.“The other thing which was glaring in this game against South Africa was even the pace bowlers, when they take the pace off, Indian batters are struggling. The captain seemed like the one who struggled most now when the pace is taken off.”Manjrekar further stressed the need to strengthen the bowling attack rather than adding extra batting depth.“The third is an easily solvable problem. When the batting is uncertain, not firing, very often you try and get more batting depth. There’s another way to cover that weakness, and that is by having a stronger bowling attack. So get Kuldeep Yadav in.”“So yes, try and make a change that is possible and immediately effective, and then work on the more complex problems… If done quickly, India still have a great chance of getting into the final rounds,” he concluded.

Zimbabwe’s Ryan Burl celebrates the wicket of Australia’s Glenn Maxwell in Colombo. (AP Photo)

NEW DELHI: Who will make it to the Super 8s of the 2026 T20 World Cup? Most expected names — India, Australia, England, Pakistan, West Indies, South Africa, New Zealand, and Sri Lanka — dominated the predictions. Even the USA was mentioned. Other teams, including Zimbabwe, were largely tagged as “underdogs.”Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!But Zimbabwe have shattered that perception. With majestic performances, they earned their place in the Super 8s, defeating Oman, Australia, and Sri Lanka along the way and sending a clear message: they are not underdogs.After the 2024 T20 World Cup, while the world speculated about the 2026 edition, Zimbabwe quietly went back to basics. They focused on learning, practicing, planning, and grinding hard without making noise. The results speak for themselves — Zimbabwe have emerged as the ‘Cinderella’ team of the tournament.

Now, Zimbabwe face another big test. They are placed in a tough Super 8 group with defending champions India, 2024 runners-up South Africa, and two-time champions West Indies. To reach the semifinals, they must finish in the top two of the points table.For Zimbabwe batter Ryan Burl, this success is not just a dream or a statement against their underdog tag. “This is the result of a 24-month plan we made and are now executing well,” he disclosed. Their journey reflects strategy, hard work, and belief, and now the team is ready to take on the giants.“You’re always going to be the underdog when you’re ranked lower,” Burl told TimesofIndia.com in an exclusive interview.

“Beating a team ranked above you is always special. As underdogs, it motivates us even more because people don’t really expect us to win. So when we do, it means a lot — to us as players and to our nation.”Zimbabwe dominated the sub-regional qualifiers, facing teams like Kenya, Rwanda, and Tanzania with authority. They went on to win Qualifiers B, the Regional Sub-Regional B, and finally the main qualifiers, securing their spot in the 2026 T20 World Cup — a dream this squad was determined not to let go to waste.Even after their impressive group-stage performances, Burl and the rest of the Zimbabwe team are not celebrating. Their focus has already shifted to the next challenge: executing a fresh, well-laid plan for the Super 8s.“Our success has been the result of a carefully crafted plan executed over time. Every player has put in immense hard work. About 18 to 24 months ago, we set ourselves the dream and goal of reaching the Super 8s,” he said.“We’ve had highs and lows, but throughout, we’ve followed clear game plans and blueprints. Combining that planning with hard work has brought us to where we are today.”Zimbabwe last played in India during the first round of the T20 World Cup in 2016.In the 2026 edition, they will kick off their Super 8 campaign against West Indies on Monday in Mumbai, followed by a clash against India in Chennai, and then face South Africa in Delhi.“We have to face India, West Indies, and South Africa in the Super 8s — three teams currently playing outstanding cricket. India are defending champions, so it’s a challenge in itself, but one we’re excited for. We can’t look too far ahead,” Burl said.“We have to take one game at a time. There’s jubilation in what we’ve achieved so far, but we need to stay grounded, stay calm, and focus on the next hurdle.”

Zimbabwe’s captain Sikandar Raza, right, and Brian Bennett run between the wickets. (AP Photo)

‘SIKANDAR RAZA IS A SUPERSTAR’After Zimbabwe secured their place in the Super 8s, captain Sikandar Raza made a low-key entrance to address the media. He greeted everyone with a simple “Hello, everyone,” followed by a warm smile.“The fact that we’ve qualified for the Super 8s hasn’t changed the ultimate goal that we set out for. Like I said, it’s just a tick in the box, but we have a lot of other goals to achieve and everybody loves an underdog story, don’t they?” Raza had said, reflecting on the achievement.Burl gave credit to Sikandar Raza for instilling fire and belief in every player, motivating the squad, and pushing them toward their big dream.“To be honest, he’s a legend in his own right and has deserved all the plaudits. He is a superstar. He’s worked extremely hard throughout his career,” Burl said.“As a teammate and brother on the field, it’s been very special to play alongside him. The team really buys into what he says. Combined with the guidance and leadership of coach Justin Simmons, it’s been an essential part of our success.”Zimbabwe entered the Super 8 stage of the T20 World Cup after their crucial Group B clash against Ireland was washed out due to rain. The result saw former champions Australia and Ireland eliminated from the tournament.

South Africa’s Marco Jansen celebrates with teammates the wicket of India’s Tilak Varma (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki)

India endured a nightmare start to their Super 8 campaign in the T20 World Cup as South Africa handed them a crushing 76-run defeat at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday night. Chasing 187/7, the hosts’ batting unit collapsed without offering much resistance, turning what was a crucial fixture into a one-sided contest.The slide began immediately when Ishan Kishan was dismissed for a duck in the opening over. From there, the innings never stabilised. Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Shivam Dube and Washington Sundar all failed to make meaningful contributions. Dube top-scored with 42 but consumed 37 deliveries, underlining India’s struggle to keep pace with the required rate. It was, by all accounts, a deeply disappointing display.

Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar criticised the batting approach, pointing to the contrast with how South Africa rebuilt their innings.“Yes, if you look at the way Dewald Brevis and David Miller rebuilt the South African innings, they played a lot more shots in the ‘V’, especially when the short ball was used. They adjusted really well. They realised the ball wasn’t coming onto the bat as quickly as expected — it was holding up slightly in the surface. Having seen how they constructed their innings and built that partnership, that was the kind of approach that was needed, rather than simply throwing the bat at just about everything,” Gavaskar told Star Sports after the match.South Africa themselves had been under pressure at 20/3 before Miller and Brevis steadied the ship. After settling in, the pair shifted gears and targeted the Indian attack. Varun Chakaravarthy (1/47) bore the brunt, while Hardik Pandya (0/45) and Shivam Dube (1/32 in 2 overs) also proved expensive.Proteas great Shaun Pollock echoed Gavaskar’s assessment, stressing India’s inability to adjust to the conditions.“I don’t think there was enough adaptability from India’s perspective. South Africa had already played three matches on this ground, so they had a very good understanding of how the surface behaved. They struggled in the first four or five overs and had to adjust, and it was only once the Brevis–Miller partnership got going that they were able to play their shots more freely,” he said.The heavy defeat has left India’s net run rate at -3.800, significantly complicating their path to the semi-finals. They must now defeat Zimbabwe and the West Indies, and do so convincingly, to revive their chances. Group 1 remains wide open, but the pressure is mounting on Suryakumar Yadav’s side.

West Indies players in Mumbai. (AP Photo)

MUMBAI: “The team is in a good space,” a confident West Indies coach Daren Sammy said on the eve of their Super Eights Group 1 match against Zimbabwe at the Wankhede Stadium on Monday.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Sammy was in a happy mood on Sunday afternoon as his players trained in the nets for close to two-and-a-half hours. West Indies topped their group by winning all four matches, with different players contributing at key moments.

The Men-in-Maroon may have found the going tough in Tests and ODIs, but their calling is T20 cricket as their players are some of the hottest properties across major franchise leagues all over the world. They have won the T20 World Cup in 2012 and 2016. But their form has dipped in the last two editions as they have managed to win only two matches in 2022 and 2024. Their build-up to the World Cup also included series defeats to New Zealand, Nepal,Afghanistan and South Africa.Back in India, where West Indies won their last title in 2016 with Sammy as captain, the team is in a happy space as their players are familiar with the conditions due to most of them playing in the IPL. The Windies have also shown the needed mental toughness to secure wins in a format where there is little to separate teams. The two-time champs have been content with the underdogs tag and have progressed smoothly through a tricky group in which every team has won at least one match.Their secret sauce has been different players putting in match-winning performances during the group stage. Shimron Hetmyer (64, 36b) and Romario Shepherd (5/20) helped them beat Scotland. Shepherd, who missed the last two games due to injury, was available for the Zimbabwe match. Sherfane Rutherford (76*, 42b) and a collective bowling effort led by Gudakesh Motie (3/33) helped them defeat England. Jason Holder (4/27) and Shai Hope (61*, 44b) starred in a win over Nepal, before Hope (74, 46b) and Shamar Joseph (4/30) helped them beat Italy.

Zimbabwe also enter the Super Eights in strong form after topping their group, including wins over Australia and Sri Lanka in Sri Lanka. They missed qualification for the last edition but have arrived in India with confidence. Zimbabwe, along with the showing of the emerging nations, have been the flavour of the tournament with the neutrals warming up to their exploits. Led by inspirational captain Sikandar Raza, they have found matchwinners like the young Brian Bennett, who is yet to be dismissed in the tournament and played crucial innings in the wins over Australia and Sri Lanka. Zimbabwe’s bowling has been a key strength too, with Blessing Muzarabani leading with nine wickets so far, supported by Graeme Cremer and Brad Evans.West Indies and Zimbabwe last played against each other in the 2022 edition in Australia, with West Indies winning by 31 runs. Zimbabwe’s challenge though will be adapting quickly to conditions at the Wankhede, which has offered assistance to the bowlers.