In a stunning collapse, India suffered their heaviest defeat by runs in T20 World Cup history, losing to South Africa by 76 runs in their opening Super 8 clash. This setback has thrown Team India’s semifinal hopes into jeopardy, forcing a hard look at their game plan ahead of the crucial stages.
Former India captain and coach Ravi Shastri didn’t mince words, calling the loss a timely ‘wake-up call’ for the Rohit Sharma-led side. Speaking on the ICC Review, Shastri emphasized that continuous wins can breed complacency, and this jolt came at the perfect moment.
“You’re on a winning streak, but one bad day is inevitable,” Shastri remarked. “I’m glad it happened early. India needed this shock to shake things up.”
He urged the team to rethink their strategy, particularly in team combinations. The defeat highlighted vulnerabilities in the bowling attack, with Varun Chakaravarthy enduring a nightmare outing. Shastri advocated bringing back experienced all-rounder Axar Patel alongside Washington Sundar to provide balance.
“Play both Patel and Sundar,” he insisted. “You need that extra option. On any given day, a bowler can have an off day—like Chakaravarthy on Sunday. Axar brings experience and can bat down the order at No. 8, with Hardik Pandya at 5, Shivam Dube at 6, and Sundar at 7.”
Shastri warned that another loss in Super 8 could spell elimination. He suggested flexibility in batting positions and even benching Rinku Singh if needed to prioritize specialist bowlers. “If eight batsmen can’t contribute in T20s, something’s wrong. Stop shortchanging yourselves on bowling options.”
As India regroups, Shastri’s advice could be the blueprint to salvage their campaign and chase World Cup glory.