Team India (AP Photo/Rafiq Maqbool)

TimesofIndia.com in Mumbai: 40 overs, 499 runs, 34 sixes, a last-over finish and the entire Wankhede Stadium on its feet singing “Maa Tujhe Salaam” in unison. One could not have asked for a more entertaining game of T20 cricket as India held their nerves to beat England by just seven runs and set a date with New Zealand in the summit clash of the 2026 T20 World Cup.The hosts had long yearned for a perfect game in the tournament. While this win too was far from it, it was enough for India to reach their fourth straight white-ball final. The bowlers had the cushion of runs and even when they leaked plenty, their early intent to look for wickets, something they could not do against the West Indies in Kolkata, was evident.Varun Chakravarthy was creamed for three sixes by Jacob Bethell but he responded by taking Jos Buttler’s wicket. Axar Patel was dispatched for back-to-back sixes by Tom Banton but the wily customer had the last laugh, taking the right-hander’s wicket off the third delivery. Before the emphatic response by the two spinners, India broke England’s back during the powerplay of the huge chase by picking three wickets: Phil Salt, Harry Brook and Jos Buttler.

Hardik Pandya struck off the first delivery of his spell and Jasprit Bumrah did the same. The two demonstrated their experience. The former achieved good movement in his first over while Bumrah stunned Brook with a slower ball, and then Axar took a blinder to dismiss the England skipper. When it looked like India were firmly in command, Jacob Bethell and Will Jacks, England’s best cricketer in this tournament, combined to put India under pressure. But even as England got close, it was wickets that kept India in control. Another one came just when they badly needed it and it again took a spectacular effort from Axar and Shivam Dube.Arshdeep was reintroduced to break the momentum after the spinners lacked control and the left-armer bowled three wides on the trot. His last legal delivery was set to go for at least a boundary before Axar pulled off another stunning effort, with Shivam Dube completing the relay catch to get the Wankhede roaring again.

Bethell special

The pitch was a paradise for batting and while every bowler struggled to contain the batters, Varun’s meek surrender raised significant concerns. Throughout his four-over spell, the mystery spinner lacked control and penetration, consistently erring with shorter lengths. The true bounce allowed batters to comfortably sit back on the back foot and muscle deliveries into the stands without course correction. He leaked 64 runs from four overs, his most expensive outing in the format and the second most expensive in the tournament’s history.

Jacob Bethell of England celebrates reaching his century during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup India & Sri Lanka 2026 Semi-Final match between India and England at Wankhede Stadium on March 05, 2026 in Mumbai, India. (Photo by Prakash Singh/Getty Images)

With Bethell keeping England hanging by a thread, the required run rate boiled down to 61 from the last four overs. With two southpaws in the middle, India made the bold call to bowl Arshdeep early. While he kept things quiet initially, he conceded a six and a boundary off the last two deliveries, resulting in 45 runs needed from the last three overs.Arshdeep was reintroduced to break some momentum after spinners lacked control and after the left-armer bowled three wides on the trot, his last legal delivery was set to go for at least a boundary before Axar pulled off another stunning catch, with a neat assist from Shivam Dube, to get the Wankhede roaring again. The pitch was a dream to bat on and while every bowler struggled to contain the batters, Varun’s meek surrender raises significant concerns.Throughout his four-over spell, the mystery spinner lacked control and penetration, consistently erring with shorter lengths. The true bounce allowed batters to comfortably sit back on the back-foot and muscle deliveries into the stands, without course correction. He leaked 64 runs from four overs – his most expensive outing in the format and the second most in the tournament’s history. With Bethell keeping England hanging by a thread, the required run rate boiled down to 61 from last four overs. With two left-handers in the middle, India made the bold call to bowl Arshdeep early. While he kept things quiet initially, he conceded a six and a boundary off the last two deliveries, resulting in 45 runs from the last three overs.

Magical Bumrah

Then came the over that could well have decided which way the match was headed as Surya threw his last roll of the dice and handed Bumrah the ball to bowl the 18th over. And he delivered.

Jasprit Bumrah of India celebrates the run out of Jacob Bethell of England during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup India & Sri Lanka 2026 Semi-Final match between India and England at Wankhede Stadium on March 05, 2026 in Mumbai, India. (Photo by Prakash Singh/Getty Images)

Six deliveries around the toes resulted in only six runs, making the equation 39 off the last two overs. Hardik was on top of his mark to bowl the crucial over. Even after conceding a six off the first ball, he took the wicket of Sam Curran and ended the over with a dot, leaving Shivam Dube 30 runs to defend off the last six balls.Wankhede was on its feet. A mini conference was underway between Dube, Hardik and Surya and the tension was palpable. Centurion Bethell was on strike and his first hit went straight to Pandya, patrolling the long-off. England needed Bethell at the strike and the youngster tried to steal a second but Pandya’s rocket arm caught the 22-year-old short, ending England’s hope. Archer kept the scoreboard interesting with three sixes but it was too late as England fell short by seven runs.

Another Samson masterclass

The 14th over of the Indian innings was the only one in which England did not concede a boundary. On an evening when many boundaries and sixes were hit, Will Jacks’ third over was an anomaly. Boundaries and sixes flew thick and fast in the overs bowled around the off-spinner as India, riding on another Sanju Samson masterclass, demolished England by posting a mammoth total, batting them out of the game before they even came out to bat.

Sanju Samson of India bats watched by England wicketkeeper Jos Buttler during the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup India & Sri Lanka 2026 Semi-Final match between India and England at Wankhede Stadium on March 05, 2026 in Mumbai, India. (Photo by Prakash Singh/Getty Images)

The bounce was true and with nothing happening off the surface or in the air, India feasted with a clinical batting display. It was Samson again who put on a real show of attractive strokeplay to score back-to-back half-centuries. If the unbeaten 97 in the stiff chase against West Indies at the Eden Gardens was a picture of calm, the 89 at Wankhede had domination written all over it. He never looked to slow down, even when Abhishek Sharma threw his wicket away to Jacks’ off-spin, and the manner in which he took down the predictable Jofra Archer was pure class.Samson did get a reprieve on 15 when Harry Brook dropped a dolly at mid-on off Jofra Archer’s bowling, but he made the most of it and from there onwards played a chanceless knock.England played the matchups card well but the bowlers’ execution was far from satisfactory. All of them had an economy rate in double digits, with Archer leaking 61 runs in his four overs.The 30-year-old kept digging in short to Samson, who came well prepared and stood deep in his crease to counter the extra bounce. The only occasion when the right-armer went a bit full brought an opportunity, but Harry Brook missed the sitter, handing the in-form Samson an early life. Samson then added 74 runs from the next 35 deliveries he faced.India were cruising and Wankhede was roaring. The chants of “Sanju Samson” grew louder with every big hit and Ishan Kishan ensured the momentum did not dip from the other end as he smashed an 18-ball 39. When the dangerous southpaw was dismissed in the tenth over, India controlled the situation at 117/2. Since spin was expected to play a part, they demoted Surya and sent Shivam Dube to pile on more misery on the opposition.

Dube did not disappoint. Even after Samson was dismissed 11 short of a well-deserved hundred, he aced his role to perfection by using his long levers to full effect and kept 250 within reach. For Surya, it was another ordinary outing in a knockout or must-win fixture of a multilateral tournament but Hardik Pandya covered up for the Indian skipper’s early departure as both he, and, later, Tilak Varma played strong cameos to push the side over the 250-run mark.India’s innings mirrored their training session two days before the match as the batters operated with significant intent. The Men in Blue hit 19 sixes and the sixathon made them the only side in men’s T20 history to have six totals in excess of 250 in the format. India have already hit 88 sixes in the tournament, the most in a single edition, and they are set to flirt with the century mark when they take the field in the title clash at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday.Brief score:India: 253 for seven in 20 overs (Sanju Samson 89, Shivam Dube 43, Ishan Kishan 39; Will Jacks 2/40, Adil Rashid 2/41).England: 246 for 7 in 20 overs (Jacob Bethell 105; Jasprit Bumrah 1/33, Hardik Pandya 2/38).

Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma run between the wickets during an ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 cricket match between India and Zimbabwe, at the MA Chidambaram Stadium, in Chennai. (PTI Photo)

Sanju Samson dropped to his knees and looked up at the sky in gratitude and relief, perhaps thanking the cricketing gods at the ‘Garden of Eden’ in Kolkata, after steering India to the T20 World Cup semifinals with a five-wicket win over West Indies in what was a virtual quarter-final for both teams.India captain Suryakumar Yadav doffed his cap in honour of Sanju, after the right-handed batter played a career-defining unbeaten 97 off 50 balls on Sunday.While Sanju’s 97 in Kolkata will be remembered, his short-lived but significant innings against Zimbabwe three days prior had brought momentum to India’s T20 World Cup campaign.In the five matches before Sanju returned to the playing XI against Zimbabwe, India won four but there were clear concerns in the batting, and everyone could see it.

Trouble in top-order

India played without Samson in four out of those five matches, and their highest opening partnership in those games was 8 runs. In the only match that Sanju played, against Namibia (when Abhishek was out due to illness), Samson and Ishan Kishan had an opening stand of 25 runs in 12 balls.Apart from Ishan’s knocks against Pakistan (77 off 40) and Namibia (61 off 24), India’s top four, including Surya and Tilak Varma, were also facing a strike-rate problem in those matches, as the table below shows.

Indian top-order batters’ strike-rate in the first 5 matches of T20 World Cup

Openers not providing a good start, and the middle order struggling to score runs quickly, was a double trouble for defending champions India. This was largely due to India’s batters struggling against off-spin in the tournament.With six left-handers in the top eight, India essentially invited themself to be attacked by off-spinners. And oppositions’ Erasmus, Aghas, Ayubs, and Dutts obliged.During the group stage, India faced more off-spin than any other team — 102 deliveries. Among the 13 teams that faced at least six overs of off-spin, only Nepal (5.25) and Oman (5.42) scored at a slower rate than India’s 6.23 runs per over.India’s trouble against off-spin bowling was first exposed by Gerhard Erasmus, when the Namibian skipper took four wickets, three of them left-handers, in the group-stage match. Pakistan took the cue, and their captain, Salman Ali Agha, a part-time off-spinner, took the new ball and dismissed India’s opener Abhishek Sharma caught on duck at mid-on. The trend continued in India’s last group-stage match against the Netherlands as off-spinner Aryan Dutt came to bowl the first over. He first bowled Abhishek Sharma for another duck, his third in as many matches in the tournament by then, and then sent his partner Ishan Kishan back to the dugout in the fifth over.

It is worth noting that Abhishek had not previously shown vulnerability against off-spin; in fact, he has a career strike rate of 171.1 against off-spinners in powerplay in T20Is. However, given the slow nature of the pitches in the tournament, as compared to the IPL and T20 bilaterals India played at home in the last two years, he seemed to be out of his comfort zone against them and fell to off-spin twice in the three group-stage matches.Meanwhile, Abhishek’s opening partner Ishan Kishan, does face trouble against the off-spinners. In all T20Is, Kishan has scored against off-spinners at a mere 76.9 strike rate in the first six overs. That hasn’t changed in the T20 World Cup, despite him being in the form of his life; the southpaw has scored at just 115.8 strike rate against off-spin in the powerplay, his lowest against all kinds of bowling.In comparison, Sanju Samson has a strike-rate of 188.2 against off-spinners in the powerplay in T20Is.

‘Matlab Abhishek ki jagah khilau?’

By the end of the group stage, it was clear that India’s two left-handed openers had a difficult match-up against off-spin.It was evident that South Africa will use their off-spin options if Ishan and Abhishek open the innings for India in their first Super 8 clash. India captain Suryakumar Yadav was asked in the pre-match press conference whether India would look to bring back right-handed Sanju Samson vs South Africa in the top order to counter the off-spin threat? To which he replied, “Matlab Abhishek ki jagah khilau? (Should I play him instead of Abhishek?)”, “matlab Tilak ki jagah khilau? (You mean in place of Tilak?).“Suryakumar Yadav was seen smiling sarcastically while replying to the journalist as if the suggestion was out of context.But the story repeated, as predicted, and South Africa captain Aiden Markram himself came to bowl with the new ball and dismissed opener Ishan Kishan for a duck. India lost the match by 76 runs, which left them in a do-or-die situation.

How fortunes changed for India?

India’s next Super 8 match was against Zimbabwe in Chennai, and in came Sanju Samson back in the playing XI. He opened the innings with Abhishek and provided India a brisk opening stand of 48 runs. More importantly, with Sanju as an opener, India succeeded in keeping the off-spinner away from the new ball. By the time Sanju was dismissed in the fourth over, India were 48, and Abhishek Sharma was set at the crease. Sanju scored 24 off 15 balls and fulfilled the task brilliantly that he was entrusted with, and was lauded by head coach Gautam Gambhir and support staff after his dismissal. Sanju’s presence did wonders for India in the match. Opener Abhishek Sharma, who had scored just 15 runs before that in the tournament, including three ducks, came back to form and scored a half-century. India scored 256 in the first innings and crushed Zimbabwe by 72 runs. India finally had a convincing win in the tournament, and a campaign that once seemed on the verge of derailment found its momentum. Sanju Samson had turned it around through his 15-ball 24-run knock.Against West Indies on Sunday, India chased down their highest-ever target (196) in Men’s T20 World Cup history, bettering their previous record of 173 against South Africa in 2014.Sanju Samson’s 97 in the chase was the second-highest score for India at the men’s T20 World Cup, behind only Suresh Raina’s 101 against South Africa in 2010. It was the highest for India in a chase at the T20 World Cup, bettering Virat Kohli’s 82 not out against Australia in 2016 and Pakistan in 2022.India captain Suryakumar Yadav, who just a few days ago questioned “kiski jagah khilau?”, bowed down to Samson in appreciation.The 97 in Kolkata will be remembered. It secured the semifinal spot and will sit high among India’s best T20 World Cup knocks. But it was Samson’s 15-ball 24 against Zimbabwe in Chennai that brought India’s T20 World Cup campaign to life, and they are now looking like the formidable side that they are, going into the semi-final.

Sanju Samson and skipper Suryakumar Yadav run between wickets. (ANI Photo)

NEW DELHI: A night of reckoning at the Eden Gardens turned into a night of redemption for Sanju Samson, and skipper Suryakumar Yadav could not have scripted it better.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!With India’s T20 World Cup Super Eight campaign hanging by a thread, Samson smashed an unbeaten 97 off 50 balls to power India to a five-wicket win over West Indies, sealing a semifinal berth. Under scrutiny after a lean run, Samson answered every question in style — and his captain made sure the world knew it.

“Obviously, it’s a great feeling. The way we played, it was a do-or-die, like a quarter-final game, and the way the boys showed character, I think it was a great thing,” Suryakumar said after the match.But it was his heartfelt words on Samson that stole the spotlight.“See, I always say, good things happen to good people who wait, who have a lot of patience. I said it just now as well when I met him. But then it’s all his hard work, what he’s been doing behind the doors when he was not playing, and he’s got the fruit of it at the perfect stage. And the way he batted, took the side completely to victory.”Chasing 196 after West Indies posted 195/4 — powered by late fireworks from Jason Holder and Rovman Powell — India stumbled early to 41/2 in the powerplay. But Samson stood tall, blending timing with audacity. Small partnerships, especially a crucial 42-run stand with Tilak Varma (27 off 15), kept the chase alive.Suryakumar revealed the clarity in the dressing room. “I feel everyone bowled according to plans. We knew 200 is always a good score to chase here with the dew and the ball coming on nicely. And the way the batters responded later on with small partnerships, that was the key.”The skipper also addressed the mounting pressure. “Expectations will always be there, but you should always know what you have to do on the field. I told the boys that there will be pressure… but in games like this, you have to be courageous and take positive options whenever under pressure. When there’s no pressure, there is no fun.”Samson’s 97* is now India’s second-highest individual score in T20 World Cups, behind only Suresh Raina’s 101, and marks the first time he has remained unbeaten in a T20I chase.“Very happy to be there,” Surya smiled about the semifinals. “The way we played in the first game, we deserve that spot.”India next face England in the semi-final at Wankhede stadium in Mumbai on Thursday.

Shivam Dube, left, captain Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya (AP Photo)

NEW DELHI: The uncertainty surrounding India’s campaign at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 has finally cleared. After a dramatic round of Super 8 matches, the defending champions now have a straightforward path to the knockouts.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!South Africa’s commanding nine-wicket win over West Indies in Ahmedabad confirmed the Proteas’ place in the semi-finals from Group 1. Later in the day, India strengthened their position with a resounding 72-run victory over Zimbabwe in Chennai.With Zimbabwe eliminated and South Africa already through, the final Group 1 clash between India and West Indies at Eden Gardens on Sunday has effectively turned into a virtual quarterfinal.

India Semifinal Qualification Scenario

The equation is simple: India must beat the West Indies to qualify for the semi-finals.Both teams currently sit on two points from two matches. The winner of Sunday’s encounter will join South Africa in the last four.There is, however, one small caveat. If the match is washed out due to rain — and there is no reserve day — West Indies would advance on the basis of a superior net run rate, knocking India out of the tournament. At present, though, there is no forecast suggesting weather disruption in Kolkata.In short, the calculators are back in the bag. For India, it is purely a win-and-progress scenario.

India’s qualification push gathered serious momentum after a batting masterclass against Zimbabwe. Posting 256/4 — the second-highest total in men’s T20 World Cup history — India entertained home fans with a barrage of sixes.Abhishek Sharma returned to form with a blistering half-century, while Hardik Pandya and Tilak Varma provided a thunderous finish. Zimbabwe fought back through Brian Bennett’s unbeaten 97, but India’s bowlers ensured a comfortable victory.Earlier, South Africa’s clinical chase of 177 against West Indies reshaped the group. A rapid opening partnership between Aiden Markram and Quinton de Kock made light work of the target, underlining why the Proteas remain unbeaten in the tournament.

NEW DELHI: India’s title defence roared back to life with a commanding 72-run win over Zimbabwe, and at the heart of the statement victory was a fearless message from Tilak Varma: “We want to show the fear to the opposition.”Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!Coming in at number six in a high-pressure encounter, Tilak smashed an unbeaten 44 off just 16 balls, striking at a staggering 275.00. The knock, laced with three fours and four sixes, helped India post their highest total of this T20 World Cup — 256/4 — and kept their semifinal hopes alive.

Designated as India’s number three for much of the tournament, Tilak had endured a lean patch. With a strike rate hovering around 118 in his previous five innings and visible struggles against spin on sluggish surfaces, questions had begun to surface over his role. But at Chepauk, he flipped the narrative in style.“I always say that whatever team needs, I am up for it,” Tilak said at the post-match press conference. “I have done the same role for the last four years in IPL for Mumbai Indians, switching between stabiliser and hitter. I have done it in a few games for India as well. According to the situation, I can adjust.”He added, “As I said before, I was just waiting for one innings. I am really grateful to God for that. I am pretty confident now that, going forward, I can win games for the team.”

India’s aggressive template was evident from the start. “Sanju started brilliantly this evening,” Tilak noted, praising the openers for setting the tone. “We discussed that whatever the situation is — even if we lose three or four wickets in the powerplay — we will bat with the same rhythm. We want to show the fear to the opposition that these guys are ready to hit each and every ball.”Tilak admitted the team closely followed South Africa’s dominant win over West Indies in Ahmedabad, knowing net run rate scenarios could come into play. “We were all watching the match. But as individuals and as a team, we felt it was important for us to win,” he said.“If you play good cricket, the run rate will automatically improve. We needed our cricket to be good. If our cricket is good, then God will help us in the tournament.”

Tilak Varma was back to his menacing best.
| Photo Credit: B.Jothi Ramalingam

Virat Kohli (left), Tilak Varma and Ishan Kishan (on right) (Photos by PTI and AP)

NEW DELHI: Former India cricketer Mohammed Kaif has advised Tilak Varma to ignore outside criticism and focus on playing his natural game in the T20 World Cup 2026. Tilak has had a tough tournament so far, scoring 107 runs in five matches at a modest strike rate. In the match against South Africa, he tried to change his approach by playing aggressively, but it backfired when he got out attempting a big shot.

Kaif said Tilak should stick to being an anchor for the team, similar to Virat Kohli’s role, instead of trying to hit too many big shots. He pointed out that Tilak changed his style due to pressure over his strike rate, which affected his performance.“Tilak Varma has his own way of playing. He can afford to play with a slow strike rate. However, he got out while playing a big shot. There was pressure building on him for the strike rate. As a player, you do keep track of what is being said. But it is the job of the management to ask the player to stick to his role. He should play Virat Kohli’s role. He moved away from his gameplay by stepping out and going for a big shot. You’ll never be able to play if you listen to what others are saying,” Kaif said on his YouTube channel.He also explained that India already has many aggressive batters, so Tilak’s job should be to stay till the end and guide the innings.“To become a chase master, you will have to first bat till the 20th over. Tilak Varma got out early, trying to hit. What is your role? Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Washington Sundar, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, and Rinku Singh play attacking cricket. There should be at least one player who takes the game deep,” said Kaif.Tilak is expected to play in India’s crucial match against Zimbabwe in Chennai.

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.

India’s Vaibhav Sooryavanshi (AP Photo/Solomon Chingono)

India have completed their T20 World Cup group-stage assignments and now brace for a far sterner examination in the Super 8s. The defending champions will face tougher opposition in the next phase, including 2024 runners-up South Africa, the West Indies and Zimbabwe. So far, India have underlined their status as title holders by sweeping aside every challenge in the opening round. Speaking on Ash ki Baat, Ravichandran Ashwin lauded the team’s consistency but admitted that the performance against the Netherlands was not flawless. He pointed out that Suryakumar Yadav anchored the innings with care, while Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya and Rinku Singh were positioned to lift the scoring rate at the right moment. Ashwin emphasised that even when India are not at their sharpest, their overall strength makes them difficult to beat.

“Surya played a very diligent knock. For the acceleration point, Dube, Hardik, and Rinku were there. They knew they could catch up on the scoring rate. But India weren’t extremely good today (vs Netherlands) with the bat, not extremely efficient. But it is such a solid team that even on their ordinary day, they can put you away. They were below par, not at their best. But still, with Varun Chakaravarthy bowling so well, the Netherlands could not pick him. Jasprit Bumrah got swing in the Powerplay and bowled yorkers too,” he said on Ash ki Baat. Ashwin also discussed Tilak Varma’s approach in the shortest format, especially as he works his way back after injury. He underlined that T20 success does not always depend on brute force and highlighted the value of timing and placement. “Tilak Varma is coming back after an injury. We talk about power and strength, but sweet spot and timing are the basic essence of batting. Tilak is not a big power hitter. For him, timing and finding the sweet spot are most important. Please remember, you can play like Vaibhav (Sooryavanshi), but you can also play like Tilak, who relies on timing and picks the gaps,” Ashwin said. Elsewhere, Pakistan confirmed their Super Eights qualification with a win over Namibia, joining India from Group A. Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe progressed from Group B, the West Indies and England advanced from Group C, while South Africa and New Zealand moved ahead from Group D in the 20-team tournament. With Australia and New Zealand already assured of entry into the 2028 edition as co-hosts, all teams that have reached the Super Eights, including New Zealand alongside Australia, have now secured qualification for that event.