Sunil Gavaskar Critiques India's Batting Strategy After T20 World Cup Defeat
Gavaskar's Insights on India's Performance
New Delhi, February 23: Renowned former Indian cricketer Sunil Gavaskar has voiced his concerns regarding India's batting strategy following their Super 8 loss to South Africa in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. He noted that the Indian team struggled to adjust to the playing conditions, despite clear indicators from the South African innings.
Gavaskar highlighted the differing tactics employed by Dewald Brevis and David Miller, who successfully revitalized the South African innings after an early collapse.
He pointed out that the South African batsmen played straighter shots and demonstrated a keen understanding of the pitch conditions, particularly when facing short deliveries. In contrast, India's batting approach seemed to lack situational awareness.
South Africa ended India's impressive 12-match unbeaten streak in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, delivering a significant 76-run defeat to the defending champions in Ahmedabad on Sunday.
“Observing how Dewald Brevis and David Miller managed to stabilize the South African innings, they played shots primarily in the V. When bouncers were bowled, they countered effectively, recognizing that the ball wasn’t coming onto the bat quickly. The Indian batsmen needed to adopt a similar strategy,” Gavaskar remarked during an interview.
“However, India failed to learn from South Africa’s innings. They approached the game with an overly aggressive mindset, swinging at every delivery in hopes of hitting boundaries. This is not the essence of T20 cricket. One must learn from the opposition. If they perform well on a challenging pitch, it’s crucial to set aside ego, observe, and adapt. Unfortunately, the Indian batsmen displayed overconfidence, swinging wildly and losing wickets. South Africa clearly outplayed India, earning a well-deserved victory,” he added.
Gavaskar emphasized that T20 cricket transcends mere power-hitting; it requires a deep understanding of match situations and the ability to respond appropriately. He advised that India should emulate South Africa’s strategic approach instead of sticking to an aggressive style that was ill-suited for the pitch.
India's 76-run defeat against South Africa has complicated their path to the semi-finals. The Men in Blue must secure victories in their remaining two matches while maintaining a strong net run rate to keep their hopes of defending the T20 World Cup alive.