Former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar has slammed India’s bowling strategy during their Super 8 fixture of the T20 World Cup 2026 against South Africa. The Men in Blue suffered their first defeat of the tournament, being thrashed by 76 runs by the Proteas.
India’s bowling was exposed once their trump card, Varun Chakravarthy, was taken apart by David Miller and Dewald Brevis, as he registered the third-most expensive figures of his career (1/47). As a result, pressure mounted on the fifth and sixth bowling options, with Hardik Pandya (0/45) and Shivam Dube (1/32 in two overs) conceding heavily.
Following India’s poor show with the ball, Akhtar criticised the team management for turning to Dube and Pandya during the death overs.
“Hardik and Shivam Dube were bowling at around 120 kmph. It’s not as if they are Malcolm Marshall — someone who would intimidate a batting line-up of South Africa’s calibre. If you deploy them in the death overs, such a counterattack from the Proteas is inevitable,” he said on Tapmad.
Akhtar also suggested that India should bring Kuldeep Yadav into the playing XI as an additional wicket-taking option.
“India’s bowling has been exposed. If you look at Varun, whose strength is bowling at 97–98 kmph, he was clocking 94. And when he came into the attack, he was struck for a no-look six by Dewald Brevis. The missing link here is Kuldeep Yadav. He is someone who can deceive batters in the air and pick up wickets when needed. He is a proven match-winner,” he added.
Should India play Kuldeep?
Kuldeep has featured in just one match of the tournament so far, against Pakistan, where he finished with figures of 1/14 in three overs. However, he was replaced by Arshdeep Singh for the last two fixtures against the Netherlands and South Africa.
It remains to be seen whether India will bring back Kuldeep on the spin-friendly surface in Chennai for the must-win fixtures against Zimbabwe and West Indies. The team management is already under scrutiny for benching Axar Patel against South Africa and playing Washington Sundar in his place. Hence, captain Suryakumar Yadav has plenty to consider in terms of team combination ahead of the next fixture.
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