Former cricketers Sunil Gavaskar and Shaun Pollock launched a scathing critique of India’s one-dimensional batting approach following their 76-run defeat to South Africa in the T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8 fixture at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
Chasing a target of 188, India were bowled out for 111 in 18.5 overs, suffering a heavy 76-run defeat that brought an end to their 12-match winning streak in the T20 World Cup. India’s batters failed to replicate South Africa’s measured and intelligent approach, even though the Proteas themselves had endured a shaky start with the bat.
The Proteas were left reeling at 20 for 3 after four overs before David Miller and Dewald Brevis staged a remarkable recovery. Miller smashed 63 off 35 balls, while Brevis struck 45 off 29, with the pair adding 97 runs for the fourth wicket off just 50 deliveries to turn the innings around.
Speaking on Star Sports, Gavaskar highlighted the stark contrast in approach between the two sides, pointing out that India appeared to throw their bats at almost everything rather than attempting to build their innings with greater care.
“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 said.
Pollock echoed those sentiments, pointing to India’s failure to adapt to the conditions despite clear evidence of how the pitch was behaving.
“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,” Pollock said on Star Sports.
India’s chase got off to the worst possible start as Ishan Kishan was dismissed for a duck in the very first over, while Tilak Varma (1 off 2) and Abhishek Sharma (15 off 12) also fell cheaply, with the Men in Blue finishing the powerplay at 31 for 3. The rest of the batters crumbled under pressure of the required run rate and perished while playing big shots.
India could’ve tried to absorb pressure: Pollock
Pollock further stressed that India’s aggressive intent backfired during the most challenging phase of the chase. He noted that India needed to be smarter and should have adjusted their approach according to the conditions.
“I think India could have tried to absorb a bit of pressure early on, because that was the most challenging phase, as the ball seemed to be holding in the surface. But they didn’t; instead, they came out hard, lost three early wickets, and then found themselves under pressure to replicate what South Africa had done. Sometimes you have to be smart. I just don’t think they adjusted their game plan or fully recognised that the toughest period on that surface was always going to be against the new ball with the pronounced seam,” Pollock added.
India’s aggressive brand of cricket offered little room for recalibration once the early wickets fell. The inability to rotate the strike or build meaningful partnerships compounded the pressure, ultimately resulting in a comprehensive defeat.
The loss has intensified scrutiny over India’s batting philosophy, particularly after repeated setbacks in the tournament so far. Meanwhile, their ongoing struggles have left them in a precarious position in the competition. Their net run rate has been severely affected by the defeat and now stands at -3.800. The Men in Blue must win both of their remaining fixtures against Zimbabwe and West Indies to keep their hopes alive in the tournament.
