Why did Axar Patel not play in the Super 8 match against South Africa? Well, that’s an inexplicable tactical blunder. As big as the stadium Sunday’s T20 World Cup match was played in. But India still had 11 men on the field, more than capable of getting the job done. IND vs SA, Super 8: HIGHLIGHTS | SCORECARD
So let’s cut to why India were humbled, or made to eat the cupcake (IYKYK), beyond that obvious tactical error.
Here’s a stat before we go any further. India have successfully chased a target of more than 150 only thrice in their T20 World Cup history – 173 against South Africa in 2014, 161 against Australia in 2016, and 160 against Pakistan in 2022. All three matches share a common denominator: Virat Kohli. 82 off 51, 72 off 44, and that magical 82 off 53 in Melbourne.
India were chasing 188 on Sunday at the Narendra Modi Stadium against the finalists of the 2024 T20 World Cup. Did they need Virat Kohli? India would certainly have loved him in the middle. At least we fans would have. But was this batting unit, led by Suryakumar Yadav, incapable of reaching the target? No. It was capable.
So what went wrong?
Common sense. Game awareness. The small things.
And those were things the hungry Proteas had in abundance.
South Africa won the toss and chose to bat. They were 20 for 3 in the powerplay, thanks to a ferocious opening burst from Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh. But David Miller leaned on his experience, and the knowledge of having played three years for Gujarat Titans at this venue, to steer his team out of trouble.
Alongside him stood a young gun: Dewald Brevis. Unlike the Indian batters, he swallowed his ego.
Make no mistake. Brevis, much like the new generation of Indian batters, is known for making a mockery of bowling attacks. But on Sunday, with a senior partner beside him, the Chennai Super Kings star respected the conditions. He respected the opposition.
“It’s a fantastic ground. It’s a little bit shorter down the straight than square. I always look to line-up and hit straight,” said Miller after his match-winning 63 off 35 balls, speaking about his love for the ground.
That awareness. That adaptability. That’s what India missed.
FAMILIAR OFF-SPIN TROUBLE
In the very first over of the chase, India were rocked. All eyes were on Abhishek Sharma, the World No. 1 T20I batter, heading into the Super 8 match on the back of three ducks. Thankfully, he did not take strike. Ishan Kishan, his in-form partner, did.
Against, well, you know who – a part-time off-spinner in Aiden Markram.
The moment Markram floated it up, Kishan’s eyes lit up. Nothing wrong with that. But instead of hitting the part-timer back over his head, he went for a wild cross-batted swipe and managed only a top edge.
Here’s another stat for you. In this T20 World Cup, India have lost 12 wickets to right-arm off-spinners – and every single one of them has been a part-timer: Markram, Gerhard Erasmus, Aryan Dutt, and Salman Ali Agha.
That isn’t a coincidence. That’s carelessness.
Now let’s cut to the chase, or rather, the chase that never was.
TILAK VARMA, UN-LIKE TILAK VARMA
Then came Tilak Varma. A man tailor-made for tough situations. Virat Kohli lite, if you like – especially after that rescue act against Pakistan in the Asia Cup final.
But on Sunday, Tilak fell in line with the rest.
Knowing full well that Abhishek was still struggling for rhythm, Tilak charged down the track and attempted to launch Marco Jansen into orbit. What happened next? Jansen’s height extracted that extra bounce, and Tilak’s thick edge flew to the wicketkeeper.
“He has been a street-smart batter. I was a little disappointed with his approach today. It was his responsibility to try and stick around with Abhishek and build a partnership. With a wicket gone, you didn’t have to get 70 in the powerplay. 50 or 55 was something that would have been a good platform,” Sunil Gavaskar said on Sunday, not holding back in his assessment of the Indian top order’s foolhardiness.
ABHISHEK: GONE MISSING
Abhishek?
The young man is crumbling under expectation.
He entered the big game against South Africa after battling a stomach infection and wretched luck that saw him register ducks in all three group-stage outings. He had faced a grand total of eight balls in the group stage.
On Sunday, he managed 12.
And in those 12 deliveries, he looked as scratchy as ever.
Not once did he try to keep the ball down. Not once did he attempt to rotate strike and ease the pressure. Instead, he swung wildly, connected sparingly, and was ultimately undone by South Africa’s clear tactic – variations of pace.
In the fifth over, Abhishek perished. He tried to send a Jansen slower ball into orbit, but could only manage a leading edge that barely reached the boundary.
28 for 3 in the powerplay.
Axar Patel next?
Nope. India’s crisis man was watching the crisis unfold from the bench.
Washington Sundar was promoted to No. 5. Should Hardik Pandya not have gone in? Experienced. Familiar with the ground. But no. The left-right combination had to be preserved. Rigid tactics. Inflated egos.
That’s what brought India down.
Washington Sundar did not last long, throwing away an opportunity that would make him a hero, would have calmed the dressing room down.
The rest of the innings unravelled with the grace of collapsing scaffolding.
Suryakumar Yadav, captain and supposed anchor of this new era, fell attempting a trademark ramp to a ball far too quick and high for the stroke. He had steered India out of trouble a few days back against the USA. But South Africa were not the USA. When Hardik finally arrived, the situation demanded calm. Instead, he too answered the siren call of the boundary ropes, holing out at long-on to Keshav Maharaj.
It was intent over intellect. Ambition over awareness. From there, the tail did not wag – it waved the white flag.
Maharaj feasted on a lower order that seemed mentally checked out. By the time the final wicket fell, India were bundled out for 111 in 18.5 overs. And their best batter was Shivam Dube, once again!
Assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate admitted as much. India didn’t just lose. They unravelled, spectacularly.
“So we understand we’ve made a lot of mistakes tonight. We understand you’re probably allowed one mess up in this phase of the competition. And we’ve messed up on a grand scale,” he said, backing his men to bounce back.
But can they?
A 76-run defeat has sent their Net Run Rate crashing faster than the stock market. It now reads -3.800.
India need two emphatic wins to reach the semi-finals. A bit of help from South Africa would not hurt either.
Because right now, India’s fate may no longer be entirely in their own hands.
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