In a shocking turn at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, India’s T20 World Cup 2026 Super-8 campaign suffered its worst-ever defeat by runs, crumbling to South Africa by 76 runs on Sunday. This historic loss has sparked intense scrutiny over the playing XI, with assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate dropping hints that could trigger major team reshuffles.
Abhishek Sharma and Tilak Varma, who have struggled throughout the tournament, failed once again against the Proteas. Abhishek notched up 15 runs off 12 balls for his first score of the event, while Tilak managed just a single run. Their consistent underperformance has fueled calls for Sanju Samson’s inclusion.
During the post-match press conference, ten Doeschate praised Samson as a ‘fantastic player’ whose right-handed batting at the top provides technical balance. ‘Discussions around Sanju will continue in the coming days,’ he noted, signaling potential changes ahead of clashes with Zimbabwe and West Indies.
The coach acknowledged Abhishek’s battles with food poisoning and mental strain from three successive ducks, but stressed no excuses. Tilak, too, has fallen short of expectations. With Samson’s strong record against South Africa, fans and pundits believe he could replace one of the openers in the upcoming Super-8 fixtures.
This defeat, the largest by runs in T20 World Cup history for India, underscores the urgency for selectors to act. As pressure mounts on Abhishek, Samson’s name is buzzing louder than ever, promising a fresh dynamic to India’s batting lineup.