Defending champions India are running out of time, as they have little time to dwell on their heaviest defeat in the recent T20 World Cup against South Africa in the Super Eight stage of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. The 76-run loss to South Africa not only jolted their campaign but also brought an end to their remarkable run of 12 consecutive wins across the last two editions of the tournament.
The much-anticipated rematch of the 2024 final saw India being bowled out for 111 in 18.2 overs in chase of a good total of 187 set by South Africa. India had a bright start after being asked to bowl, striking early; however, David Miller and Dewald Brevis rebuilt the innings, scoring 63 and 45, respectively.
Tristan Stubbs gave the late boost, blasting 44 unbeaten off 24. India, who will now face Zimbabwe on Thursday, are now in desperate need of a win to revive their hopes for a semi-final spot. Meanwhile, former Indian cricketer Ravi Shastri feels that shakeup was needed and India should rethink their strategy moving ahead in the tournament.
"You win 12 matches on the trot, there's bound to be an off day. And I'm glad it has come early. It might just be the shakeup India needed," Shastri said on The ICC Review.
"It might also make them rethink their strategy as to the composition of the side going ahead. They would have learned from that last experience that they're not going to take things for granted because in this Super Eight if you lose one more (match), then you're really putting yourself under serious pressure."
In the match against South Africa, India's decision to include Washington Sundar ahead of vice-captain Axar Patel had attracted huge criticism, considering Axar’s experience in high-pressure games. Speaking on team compositions, Shastri felt that India should go with Axar Patel.
"They have to bring him (Axar Patel) back. You need that experience. I would say play both (Patel and Sundar). Give yourself that extra option. Because on a given day, you're bound to have one bowler who's going to have an off day. Like for example, Varun Chakravarthy on Sunday," Shastri said.
"If Axar Patel is playing, he might be batting at No.8. You have got Hardik Pandya at No.5, you've got Shivam Dube at No.6, you've got Washington Sundar at No.7. Axar can go at No.5 as well."
"Now, if eight batters can't do the job in T20 cricket, then something's wrong, especially with that kind of firepower. Where you're missing out is you're not giving yourself that extra option of a bowler, which I think is important."
Former Australia captain Ricky Ponting said that India should get their best playing XI.
"Listening to the commentary, the reason Axar didn't play (against South Africa) is because of the left handers in the opposition side. But there's still some right handers there. It just comes down to the art of the captain of being able to use Axar at the right time. I would be going back to the basics. I'd be just looking at their lineup. Who's our best XI for the conditions in Chennai?" Ponting said.
"If that has Axar Patel in it, great. If it has Kuldeep Yadav in it, that's the other one that I'd be thinking about bringing back because it doesn't matter with him if it's left-hand or right-hand. He can bowl wrong ones and spin the ball away from the left-hand outside edge of both those batters," he said.