West Indies’ players after their win against Zimbabwe. (AP Photo)

NEW DELHI: Former India captain Anil Kumble believes West Indies have shown they possess the qualities needed to win the T20 World Cup at the business end, while warning that India now face a difficult road to the semi-finals after their heavy defeat to South Africa.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!West Indies sent a strong message to the rest of the field with a dominant 107-run demolition of Zimbabwe, piling up a staggering 254/6 before bowling their opponents out for 147. The performance impressed Kumble, who said the Caribbean side demonstrated a clear understanding of how to succeed in knockout-style situations.

“The West Indies understand what it takes to win at this stage of the tournament. The left-arm spinners were outstanding. Gudakesh Motie bowled brilliantly. In this format, finger spinners often try to stay away from the batter’s hitting arc, but Motie and Hosein were different,” Kumble said on JioHotstar.He also singled out Shimron Hetmyer’s explosive 34-ball 85 as the turning point. “Shimron Hetmyer has long been a finisher and knows how to clear the boundaries. He has the power and the temperament. What stands out is that he doesn’t settle for quick cameos of 20 or 30. He converts them into substantial scores. Had he fallen for 30, perhaps the West Indies wouldn’t have reached 254,” Kumble explained.

Kumble added that Rovman Powell’s calculated assault made the total even more formidable. “Powell is again a proven power-hitter. He took his time initially, but once he settled, he was unstoppable.”Turning to India’s situation, Kumble admitted the margin and manner of their loss to South Africa had made things complicated. “Every game counts at this stage. India suffered a significant loss… The key question now is whether they can bounce back strongly.”He stressed that India must now win big. “India needs to win convincingly, much like the West Indies did… The primary focus should be on winning both matches.”

Shimron Hetmyer in action against Zimbabwe.
| Photo Credit: Emmanual Yogini

South Africa players celebrate the wicket of India’s Washington Sundar during the T20 World Cup cricket match in Ahmedabad. (AP)

TimesofIndia.com in Ahmedabad: “We’ve watched other games and it was nice to just have both left-handers, with the ball spinning away. It gives some sort of option where if it’s not turning it can go straight through the gate or if it does hold a little bit like it did, it gives you that hope that we can get a wicket in the first over.“Light giggles broke out in the press conference room when David Miller was asked about the plan to start with Aiden Markram. The South African batter’s response was what most reporters had heard before, in the same hall when the Netherlands’ Bas de Leede responded to a similar query. South Africa took a cue from the Netherlands, who must have been encouraged by how the game against Pakistan unfolded. The arch-rivals would have surely been encouraged by how Namibia’s Gerhard Erasmus bowled in the Delhi fixture.

Different venues, different teams but all kept the approach simple. Bring in an off-spinner early and wait for the Indian batters to make a mistake. And they did. The part-time off-spin bowling from Salman Agha and Markram secured early wickets in their respective matches and Erasmus applied the middle-overs choke, especially with many left-handers to bowl at. Netherlands Aryan Dutt followed the basics and removed both Ishan Kishan and Abhishek Sharma in the powerplay. Obsessed with match-ups, India have been way off the mark in the tactical battles.From poor shot selection and a lack of game awareness to having no Plan B, the T20I World Cup has been a very bumpy ride lacking any careful maneuvering. Panic was palpable in the dugout when Miller and Dewald Brevis put South Africa back on track, from being 20/3, and their calculated takedown of Varun Chakravarthy came as a rude shock to the think-tank. There was no one to apply that choke from the other end because the only bowler, Axar Patel, who was capable of doing that with his sharp game awareness and ability to deliver under pressure, was warming the bench.

Washington Sundar plays a shot during an ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 cricket match between India and South Africa. (PTI)

Washington Sundar, still an unproven commodity in the shortest format, was preferred because of the left-handers in the opposition camp. However, the moment two of them – Quinton de Kock and Ryan Rickelton – were dismissed early, the lack of a Plan B exposed India and Miller-Brevis were in the mood to capitalise. The defence mechanism regarding Washington over Axar was fully displayed in post-match pressers, but it lacked the conviction and logic which everyone was looking for.“We spent so much time deliberating about the XI, the last couple of days. And I guess the only way that it sort of didn’t play into our hands is if we did have the ideal start like we did today with getting Quinton and Rickelton out so early. We were kind of looking at matchups more in the middle. And then obviously, someone has to give way. So – do we leave a batter out and get another bowler in, in hindsight, that looks like the right decision? “But obviously, playing it forward and making decisions at the time, we felt we needed Rinku, as an eighth batsman, so to speak. And the decision was based around there. But certainly, it’s not to take anything away from Axar and his leadership and how important he is to the team. But look we face almost every week to try to squeeze 11 places into 15, We’re finding tricky. And we need to make sure we get that spot on for the next two Super 8 games,” said assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate.

David Miller and Dewald Brevis stitched a 97-run partnership during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8 Group 1 match against India. (ANI)

India complicated the Playing XI selection more than necessary, and captain Suryakumar Yadav wasn’t proactive enough to regain control while Miller and Brevis were scoring freely. Every bowler can have an off day, and Varun did. However, giving the extra over to Arshdeep Singh during the powerplay — a desperate move to take another wicket — probably backfired, as both he and Jasprit Bumrah were forced to bowl their remaining overs in the death.Had there been more cushion for the slog overs, one Bumrah over could have well made the difference in the middle-overs because the local boy was in a different mood at the Narendra Modi Stadium. His spell of 3/15 was the sole reason South Africa didn’t cross the 200-run mark. However, 187 proved to be far more than India would have liked in that chase and South Africa’s takedown of India’s X-factor, Varun, deserves significant appreciation.“He’s a world-class bowler and he has had huge success, in all different formats that he’s played, all different leagues and, yeah, especially international. So I think for us it was more just, I mean, it’s not like in the past where we’ve been quite tentative but I think it’s just about really making sure that we were on it in terms of if he bowls a bad ball we got to put it away – so a little bit more intent. “And it wasn’t spinning too much tonight, so you can kind of trust the line. And once we felt that, then we felt, OK, we’ve got to take him down, because he is a threat to every team that he does play against. So it was definitely something that we did speak about,” said Miller on their plans for Varun.

Jasprit Bumrah was one bright spark for India on an otherwise poor day against South Africa in the T20 World Cup Super Eight. (AP)

South Africa showed how and why India are very much “beatable.” Their emphatic win, which severely impacted the hosts’ net run rate has increased calls for a lot of soul searching before the next game against Zimbabwe in Chennai on Thursday. Ahead of the South Africa fixture, Surya was categorically asked about Sanju Samson‘s potential place in the Playing XI to add a right-hander to the mix but he chose to laugh the suggestion off. A day later, the conversations around the same thought are getting louder with coach Ryan confirming that the wicketkeeper-batter will remain a talking point leading up to the crucial games.Should you drop the woefully out-of-form Abhishek Sharma? Or a struggling-to-get-going Tilak Varma? The options are on the table and it looks extremely difficult for the two left-handers to retain their place in the XI for the Zimbabwe clash.“They’re all fantastic players. So you stick with the guys who we feel have performed really well over the last 18 months and who are maybe shy of a few runs now? Or do we twist and bring Sanju, who’s also a fantastic player and obviously helps tactically with having a right hander at the top of the order and I’m sure that’ll be a talking point over the next few days going into these two very important games,” explained ten Doeschate.India have some time to make that crucial call but if they stick to the left-is-right approach, it will be a no-brainer to see Sikandar Raza at the top of the bowling mark when India’s openers walk out to bat in Chennai. He, too, would have seen the previous games involving the defending champions and could well have a response similar to Miller at the end of the match. It’s all very predictable and the ball is now in India’s court to surprise their opponents with tactical smarts.

NEW DELHI: “Pakistan will play the final,” Pakistan allrounder Shadab Khan confidently told a fan, hinting at the Men in Green’s ambitions in the T20 World Cup 2026. The clip, now going viral on social media, sets the tone ahead of Pakistan’s Super Eights clash against England at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Tuesday.“So, you are here till the semi-finals?” a fan asked, probably indicating the side’s matches in Sri Lanka.

In reply, Shadab says, “Till the final. Final, inshahallah.” The pitch in Pallekele is expected to assist slow bowlers, and both teams are likely to lean heavily on their spin attacks. England, two-time champions, may not have hit top gear yet, but they began their Super Eights campaign with a commanding 51-run win over Sri Lanka. That victory not only boosted their net run rate but also propelled them to the top of the standings. Defending a modest total, England’s spinners, supported by pacer Jofra Archer, triggered a dramatic collapse in the Sri Lankan batting lineup.Pakistan, on the other hand, were left frustrated after their opener against New Zealand was washed out, leaving them with a single point and little margin for error. They will rely on a varied spin arsenal, including the mystery spin of Usman Tariq and the experience of Saim Ayub, Abrar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, and Mohammad Nawaz, to stifle England’s batting.Batting consistency, however, remains a concern for Pakistan. While opener Sahibzada Farhan has impressed as the tournament’s leading run-scorer with 220 runs from four innings, others like Saim Ayub and captain Salman Agha are yet to fire decisively. A strong batting performance will be crucial if Pakistan are to overcome England’s balanced side.With stakes high, the clash promises a fascinating battle between England’s disciplined spin and Pakistan’s variety. Fans will be watching closely to see if Shadab Khan’s bold prediction of reaching the final can come true.

On a surface expected to assist slow bowlers, both England and Pakistan will lean heavily on their spin resources in their Super Eights clash in the T20 World Cup in Pallekele on Tuesday (February 24, 2026).

England may not have hit top gear yet, but the two-time champions have found ways to win.

They kicked off their Super Eights campaign with a commanding 51-run victory over Sri Lanka, a result that significantly boosted their net run rate and took them to the top of the standings.

Defending a modest total against Sri Lanka, England played according to the conditions perfectly. Their spinners did the bulk of the work along with pacer Jofra Archer to trigger a dramatic Sri Lankan batting collapse.

The ever-reliable leg spinner Adil Rashid and left arm spinner Liam Dawson have combined well to get the wickets.

Meanwhile, Will Jacks has emerged as an unlikely match-winner. His off-spin has been handy, but it is his contributions with the bat, 39 against Nepal, 16 against Scotland and 53 versus Italy, that have repeatedly bailed England out of trouble.

Opener Phil Salt returned to form with a match-winning knock against Sri Lanka, as he batted beyond the powerplay for the first time in the tournament.

However, Jos Buttler’s form remains a concern. But the veteran batter has got the backing of his captain Harry Brook, who himself is yet to find runs.

England also hold the advantage of familiarity with the venue, having swept a three-match T20I series here 3-0 earlier this month and also winning the Super Eight game against Sri Lanka.

“We still haven’t had that perfect game with the bat. We haven’t managed to get the starts and the big scores that we’d like,” Brook said after the win against Sri Lanka.

“In my eyes I see that as something coming very soon and with the likes of Jos Buttler not coming off and Jacob Bethell, myself, Tom Banton not getting big scores and we still managed to get over the line and get the job done is awesome. Hopefully rewards can come a little bit later down the line for the lads with the bat.” Pakistan, in contrast, were left frustrated after their Super Eights opener against New Zealand was washed out, leaving them with just one point and little room for error.

The Men in Green will bank on their varied spin arsenal on a track that traditionally slows as the match progresses.

Alongside the mystery spin of Usman Tariq, Pakistan boast of depth in Saim Ayub, Abrar Ahmed, Shadab Khan and Mohammad Nawaz, a collective that could prove crucial in stifling England’s batting line-up.

However, Pakistan’s own batting inconsistency remains a concern, especially against quality spin.

While opener Sahibzada Farhan, who is the leading run scorer of the tournament with 220 runs from four innings, has done well, the likes of Saim Ayub and captain Salman Agha, who is capable of both anchoring and accelerating, are yet to fire.

The Teams (from):

England: Harry Brook (c), Tom Banton, Jos Buttler, Ben Duckett, Phil Salt, Jacob Bethell, Sam Curran, Liam Dawson, Will Jacks, Jamie Overton, Rehan Ahmed, Jofra Archer, Adil Rashid, Josh Tongue, Luke Wood.

Pakistan: Salman Ali Agha (c), Abrar Ahmed, Babar Azam, Faheem Ashraf, Fakhar Zaman, Khawaja Nafay, Mohammad Nawaz, Mohammad Salman Mirza, Naseem Shah, Sahibzada Farhan, Saim Ayub, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Shadab Khan, Usman Khan, Usman Tariq.

Match starts 7 p.m. IST.

Published – February 23, 2026 12:18 pm IST

South African players celebrate their win over India in the T20 World Cup Super 8 match in Ahmedabad on February 22, 2026
| Photo Credit: Vijay Soneji

David Miller’s knock put the pressure back on India.
| Photo Credit: VIJAY SONEJI

Abhishek Sharma (AP Photo)

NEW DELHI: As defending champions India prepare for a high-stakes Super 8 showdown against South Africa in Ahmedabad, former all-rounder Irfan Pathan has pinpointed the technical and tactical adjustments Abhishek Sharma must make to overcome his alarming slump at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Abhishek, the world’s No. 1 T20I batter, has endured a nightmare run, registering a hat-trick of ducks and struggling particularly against off-spin. Pathan believes the root cause lies in the opener’s shot selection and approach rather than his natural technique.

“Abhishek Sharma is getting out to off-spinners. Against Pakistan and the Netherlands, off-spinners got him. The problem lies in his shot selection,” Pathan said on JioHotstar.Explaining the flaw, Pathan noted that Abhishek is trying to dominate too early instead of settling in.“His bat comes down from a high angle, and he is not looking to hit straight. He is trying to play across the wicket. That is getting him into trouble,” he said. “He moves his front foot away to create room, but bowlers are not giving him room. These are not drivable balls.”

However, Pathan warned against drastic changes, urging the youngster to trust his natural game while making smarter decisions.“His bat angle is coming across, which is natural to him. He does not need to change that. If he tries to change it now, it will be a mess,” he explained. “First things first, get a single, get off the mark. Expect the spinner to come in, get to the other end, and target the fast bowlers. He does not need to bludgeon from the first ball.”While Abhishek has struggled, Pathan reserved glowing praise for fellow opener Ishan Kishan, who has been one of the tournament’s standout performers.“Ishan Kishan is in the form of his life. He is playing the leg side really well. He targets square-leg and fine-leg,” Pathan said. “If you give him leg-side deliveries at the start, it’s trouble.”But he also issued a word of caution ahead of the South Africa test.“Against South Africa, I want to see what Kishan does when they bowl wide and make him play on the off-side early. He has improved a lot, but only after getting set,” he added.

Sri Lanka’s Maheesh Theekshana, left, and captain Dasun Shanaka (AP Photo)

Dark clouds have loomed over Kandy this week, with rain sweeping across the Hanthana mountain range and keeping the covers on at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium on Saturday.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!More showers are expected on Sunday, threatening to intrude on this T20 World Cup Super 8 contest between Sri Lanka and England. If the weather relents, a duel of spin could define the clash.England return to familiar territory after brushing aside Sri Lanka 3-0 in a T20I series here earlier this month. That success provides reassurance, especially after a stuttering group-stage campaign in which they edged Nepal by four runs, lost to West Indies by 30, then beat Scotland by five wickets and Italy by 24 runs.

England captain Harry Brook conceded that his team were “too careful with the bat” in the group stage. “We’ve been too careful with the bat. We can probably be a bit more brave in certain situations and have more faith in the guys behind us to be able to put up a decent score,” he said, adding, “We probably underestimated a few of the teams and they put up a really good fight. Thankfully, we are in the Super 8s.”Sri Lanka’s journey has followed a similar arc of promise and pause. Comfortable wins over Ireland and Oman set the tone and a chase of 182 against Australia at this venue showcased their credentials. Yet, a stumble against Zimbabwe in Colombo has stalled their momentum.

For the co-hosts, much rests on opener Pathum Nissanka, who struck an unbeaten 52-ball century against Australia. With 199 runs in the group stage, he sits among the leading scorers. Brook reckoned Nissanka’s form will be a threat and said England have plans to remove him early. Kusal Mendis, with three half-centuries in four innings, adds gravitas at the top of the order.However, the absence of pacer Matheesha Pathirana, ruled out for the remainder of the competition, has dented their bowling resources. Maheesh Theekshana’s six wickets, meanwhile, underline his importance.With the ball, legspinner Adil Rashid remains vital to England’s plans, supported by Jofra Archer’s pace. Rashid has six wickets in the tournament, including 2/16 against West Indies, highlighting his threat on surfaces that grip. Asked if Jacob Bethell is fit to bowl, Brook said: “Not sure yet, he’s got a decent cut in his finger. If there’s some way we can get around that, then we’d bowl him.”