Kumble and Du Plessis Discuss India's T20 Strategy and Tactical Challenges

In a recent discussion, former Indian captain Anil Kumble and ex-South African skipper Faf du Plessis shared insights on India's T20 strategy. Kumble praised the team's depth and flexibility, while Du Plessis pointed out potential vulnerabilities on flat pitches. As India prepares for crucial matches in the T20 World Cup, both experts highlighted the importance of tactical planning and the role of part-time bowlers. With a recent victory against Zimbabwe, India is set to face the West Indies in a decisive match for a knockout spot. Read on to discover their full analysis and predictions.

By Narendra Chaudhary Feb 27, 2026, 13:34 IST

Strengthening T20 Depth

Anil Kumble, the former captain of India, believes that the team's recent experimentation has significantly enhanced their depth in T20 cricket. He noted that Faf du Plessis, the ex-captain of South Africa, pointed out possible tactical weaknesses when playing on flat pitches. Kumble emphasized that India's approach of utilizing part-time bowlers has added both balance and flexibility to the squad. Currently, the team relies on five main bowlers: Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakravarthy, Hardik Pandya, and Axar Patel. Shivam Dube serves as the sixth bowler, with Abhishek Sharma and Tilak Varma also capable of contributing an over or two. However, Dube's performance in the ongoing T20 World Cup has not been impressive; he has bowled 9.2 overs, conceding 124 runs at an economy rate of 13.28, despite taking five wickets.

Kumble on Building Bowling Depth

Kumble remarked, "They certainly did all the right things to get the batters to bowl a bit through the previous World Cup to now. If you look at the last 18 months, where India played T20 cricket, where they've won every single game, Tilak Varma got to bowl, Abhishek Sharma got to bowl, and Dube got to bowl. Then even Rinku Singh bowled, even Suryakumar Yadav bowled," as reported by ESPNcricinfo. He suggested that allowing various batting options to bowl during bilateral series leading up to the T20 World Cup has provided extra bowling resources for the crucial tournament. Kumble also mentioned that having multiple part-time bowlers can be beneficial in high-pressure situations. "So in that sense, you have options, and that's great. But on a flat pitch, there will be challenges. India would ideally want the comfort of playing eight batters, rather than going in with seven batters and five specialist bowlers," he added.

Du Plessis Highlights Tactical Risks

Du Plessis, on the other hand, discussed how opposing teams might strategize against India's bowling attack. He stated, "100%. You look at it and ask: who are the danger bowlers? Most of the time, it's Bumrah. On the day, you make that call - if you can get on top of someone else early, then the sixth bowling option is going to have to come in." He cautioned that if part-time bowlers are targeted, it could lead to trouble, saying, "If that happens, and he [Dube] is bowling wide yorkers or defensive lines, you can line him up." India recently secured a crucial victory against Zimbabwe, winning by 72 runs, and will now face the West Indies in a decisive match for a spot in the knockout stage, alongside South Africa.