New Delhi buzzed with reactions after India’s shocking 76-run defeat to South Africa in the T20 World Cup Super 8 clash on Sunday. This loss, the biggest by runs in India’s T20 WC history, has put their semifinal hopes in jeopardy. South Africa, electing to bat first after winning the toss, piled up 187 for 7, powered by explosive batting. India crumbled to 111 all out, unable to chase the daunting total.
Former Pakistan spinner Saqlain Mushtaq couldn’t hide his glee. ‘South Africa’s plans worked to perfection against India,’ he declared. ‘No matter India’s stature, they’ve been brought down a notch or two. Their batting, bowling, and fielding were all top-class.’ Saqlain highlighted how the Proteas executed every strategy flawlessly, exposing India’s vulnerabilities.
Shoaib Akhtar, the Rawalpindi Express, zeroed in on India’s middle-order meltdown. ‘Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, and the spinners buckled under pressure,’ he critiqued. ‘India’s batting is supposed to be rock-solid, but the middle order flopped badly. Pandya isn’t the right choice for the 20th over, or even the middle overs.’ Akhtar pointed out the batting collapse that sealed India’s fate.
Umar Gul echoed similar sentiments, praising South Africa’s aggressive approach against India’s spinner Varun Chakaravarthy. ‘Pandya and Dube struggled with the ball, while Chakaravarthy was all at sea,’ Gul noted. Meanwhile, former opener Ahmad Shehzad took a dig at India’s think tank. ‘Gautam Gambhir is plotting strategies, but wrong playing XI picks could keep favorites India away from the title,’ he warned.
As India licks its wounds, the road to semifinals looks steeper. South Africa’s comprehensive dominance has sparked debates on team selection and pressure handling, with Pakistani ex-stars leading the charge.