Former India wicketkeeper-batter Parthiv Patel believes India must stay true to their attacking philosophy despite the top-order collapse against the USA, as the team prepares for its next ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 assignment against Namibia. The former cricketer analysed India’s approach at the top and explained how opposition bowlers could look to exploit specific patterns against the openers.
India’s aggressive start to the tournament has been built around a high-risk, high-reward template,
particularly through Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan at the top of the order. While the plan backfired against the USA, Patel stressed that one poor outing should not trigger a tactical rethink, especially in a World Cup environment where clarity of roles is crucial.
“India should not change their approach at all. Going into this World Cup, India had a philosophy of playing high-risk, high-reward cricket. Yes, it did not work against the USA, who were very well prepared against Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan. I think the openers should continue playing the way they have been," Parthiv said via JioStar's 'Game Plan'.
"Abhishek Sharma should go out there and keep hitting the way he has been, especially the sixes we have seen over the last year and a half. Whenever balls are pitched around the stump area, he clips them over square leg, or he likes to create a bit of room for himself, the cricketer-turned-commentator added.
Patel’s assessment highlights how Namibia’s bowling attack could tailor its plans by attacking the openers’ scoring zones rather than challenging them in areas where they thrive. With Abhishek’s preference for balls in the arc and Ishan’s reliance on getting underneath deliveries, variations in length and width could be key weapons.
However, the former India international reiterated that the onus remains on the Men in Blue themselves to back their strengths instead of reacting to one setback. With conditions expected to favour stroke play, India’s aggressive top order will be keen to set the tone early and reclaim momentum as the tournament progresses.
The bowlers will try to bowl at him around the wide line because then he stays away from the ball. That is when he does not get that elevation or power, like what happened at the Wankhede Stadium. For Ishan Kishan, I feel bowlers will try to pitch it as full as possible, like the delivery on which he got out to mid-off, so that he does not get under the ball and get the elevation we are talking about," Parthiv concluded.
As the T20 World Cup intensifies, India’s ability to balance fearless intent with situational awareness could define their campaign, starting with how their openers respond to the challenge laid down by Namibians in the upcoming clash at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi, on Thursday, February 12.
