New Delhi: India's shattering 76-run defeat against South Africa in their Super 8 opener left exposed the woes in their batting line-up in the T20 World Cup 2026 on Sunday. India suffered a spectacular
batting collapse as they were skittled out for a paltry 111 in a 188-run chase to suffer their heaviest defeat in a T20 World Cup game.
The defeat also marked an end to India's incredible 17-match unbeaten streak in ICC events. India won the T20 World Cup 2024 and the Champions Trophy last year, unbeaten. They were unbeaten in their four matches in the group stage of the T20 World Cup 2026 before suffering their first defeat in the tournament against the Proteas on Sunday.
It was an abject surrender from India's batting line-up in the 188-run chase after the hosts lost in-form opener Ishan Kishan on a duck in the first over. While Abhishek Sharma's woeful run continued, the likes of Tilak Varma and skipper Suryakumar Yadav also failed to stand up under pressure as India were handed a major reality check in the tournament.
With two games remaining in the Super Eight stage, India are in a must-win situation to stay alive in the race for the semifinals. The defending champions need to beat Zimbabwe and West Indies in their remaining two Super 8 matches to stand a chance of making it to the top four.
Following their shattering defeat against the Proteas, former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar suggested what changes India can make in their line-up and approach to bounce back in the tournament. Manjrekar urged India to bring their good batters of spin up top and face more slower balls in training. He also suggested that India bring Kuldeep Yadav into the XI to have an extra wicket-taking option.
“Thanks to SA we now know what Ind needs to do next. 1) Get batters with soft skills against spin to bat up the order. 2) Guy doing ‘throw downs’ to throw a million slower balls at Ind batters,” Manjrekar wrote on X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday.
Sanju Samson and Kuldeep Yadav in for India?
Manjrekar's suggestions hold weight as India need to make some big changes in order to bounce back in the tournament and keep their semifinal hopes alive. Amid Abhishek's horror run and Tilak's inconsistent returns at no.3, Samson is a viable option. The experienced right-hander was sidelined owing to his poor form, but he is a better player of spin and can solve India's woes at the top.
The Indian team management should consider roping in Samson in place of misfiring Abhishek, who has only 15 runs in 4 matches in the tournament so far. India can also leave Tilak out of the XI and allow Samson to open with Abhishek while utilising Kishan's rich vein of form at no.3. It remains to be seen how India will tackle their top order issues in the remainder of their Super 8 campaign.
The Indian batters should definitely start training against spinners and more slower deliveries in the nets, as almost every team has caused them problems with the slower deliveries. India can also look at bringing back Kuldeep in the XI in place of an extra batter in Rinku Singh to have an extra wicket-taking option. India must also not make the mistake of dropping the experienced Axar Patel again from the XI for Washington Sundar.
