A catastrophic 76-run loss to South Africa in Ahmedabad’s Super-8 showdown has scarred India’s T20 World Cup 2026 record books as the heftiest defeat by runs ever. Questions swirl around the playing eleven, amplified by assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate’s revealing press conference.
Tournament-long strugglers Abhishek Sharma and Tilak Varma floundered again: Abhishek 15 off 12 after battling illness and ducks, Tilak a mere 1. The narrative shifts to Sanju Samson, with ten Doeschate endorsing him strongly.
‘A fantastic player whose right-handed opening stance brings technical edge—talks about Sanju persist,’ the coach shared. This foreshadows his potential entry versus Zimbabwe and West Indies, ousting an underperformer.
Abhishek’s personal battles were noted but dismissed as non-excuses; Tilak’s form slump persists. Opting for Abhishek over Samson against South Africa, despite the latter’s edge, proved costly.
India stands at a crossroads. Elevating Samson might restore batting harmony, turning whispers into action amid mounting pressure on the top order.