As India progressed to the Super 8 stage ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 Former unbeaten off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has detailed the form of the defending champions, highlighting both concerns and promising signs ahead of the crucial clash against South Africa on February 22. Through his YouTube channel ‘Ash ki Baat’, Ashwin offered nuanced insights into the team’s performances, selection dilemmas and the challenges ahead in the crucial phase of the tournament.
India’s perfect record: the good, the bad and the unconvincing
India topped Group A with wins over USA, Namibia, Pakistan and Netherlands and finished the group stage with four comprehensive victories. However, Ashwin believes the team is yet to fire on all cylinders, especially with the bat. This is how he described India’s batting performance after their 17-run win over the Netherlands in Ahmedabad on February 18. “below” despite the victory.
“India weren’t very good with the bat today, they weren’t very effective. But they are such a solid team that they can take you away even on a normal day. They weren’t at their best, they were below par.” Ashwin observed. Given India’s reputation as tournament favourites, and the high standards they have set since their 2024 T20 World Cup triumph, this assessment carries a lot of weight.
Abhishek Sharma’s form: The elephant in the room
The most significant concern heading into the Super 8s is opener Abhishek Sharma’s disastrous run of form. The left-hander recorded three successive ducks in the tournament and became the first Indian player in T20 World Cup history to achieve this coveted milestone. Against the Netherlands, he continued the worrying pattern, hitting off-spinner Aryan Dutt.
Despite these setbacks, Ashwin strongly defended patience, insisting that dropping Abhishek would be a mistake. “It’s Abhishek’s game. It happens. He wasn’t good either. He scored runs, he didn’t. It’s not like you’re going to take him out of the team now. When he’s on song, he’s winning games for India as part of the powerplay,” stated.
Ashwin has identified a clear tactical pattern that opposition teams use against Abhishek. Off-spinners are placed at the start of bowling innings with tight lines, limiting his ability to free his arms and clear his front foot for big swings.
“Abhishek clears his front leg and tries to swing. So, off-spinner bowling has become a trend now. When we played RR vs SRH too, I bowled 3 overs in a row and didn’t go to many. He had to go out but barely escaped. It’s becoming a trend. They try to bowl tight lines. Because it’s not in his close range.” Ashwin explained.
The veteran spinner is confident that this is a temporary rough patch and not a technical fault. “It’s not a technical fault. Abhishek has always played like that. But it can play into your head. But I really hope he gets some runs and he should come good. He got three runs but that doesn’t change what a lethal batsman he is in T20 cricket.” he added.
Batting depth: India’s greatest strength
Despite concerns about the top-order consistency, Ashwin highlighted India’s extraordinary batting depth as an important advantage. Against the Netherlands, when Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma struggled for pace, the middle order absorbed the pressure and delivered.
“Surya hit hard. Dube, Hardik and Rinku were there for the acceleration point. They knew they could catch the pace.” Ashwin pointed out and praised captain Suryakumar Yadav’s responsible approach.
The platform provided by Shivam Dube’s 66 off 31 balls and Hardik Pandya’s cameo saw India post a competitive result and showed that this batting unit has remarkable resilience even on an off day.
Role of Tilak Varman: Timing over power
One of the more subtle points Ashwin raised was the importance of recognizing different batting styles within the lineup. Returning from injury, Tilak Varma faced criticism for not matching the power punch of his teammates. Ashwin offered a nuanced defence.
“Tilak Varma is back after injury. We talk about power and strength but also about sweet spot and timing as the essence of batting. Tilak is not a big power hitter. Timing and sweet spot are all important for him. Please remember that you can play like Vaibhav but you can also play like Tilak who trusts timing and picks gaps,” he explained.
This insight reflects the tactical flexibility that India possesses – the ability to adapt approaches based on matching situations rather than rigidly adhering to a power-hitting template.
Bowling power: the unsung hero
While batting concerns have dominated the debate, India’s bowling attack has been consistently outstanding in the group stage. The return of Kuldeep Yadav has added variety to the spin department which already boasts of Varun Chakravarthy and Axar Patel.
Kuldeep is on the verge of becoming India’s highest wicket-taker in T20Is, needing just two wickets to surpass Yuzvendra Chahal’s 96. His ability to spin and bounce even on flat surfaces makes him a potent weapon in the Super 8s where matches will be played on various Indian grounds.
Also READ: Dinesh Karthik settles Virat Kohli vs Babar Azam ‘legendary batter’ debate with candid statement
Jasprit Bumrah’s accuracy and Hardik Pandya’s sharp medium pace complete an all-round attack that Ashwin believes can defend any total.
India’s games in Super 8
India’s Super 8 campaign begins on February 22 with a blockbuster clash against South Africa at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad – the second leg of the 2024 T20 World Cup final. They will then face Zimbabwe in Chennai on February 26 before finishing the group stage against the West Indies in Kolkata on March 1.
Also READ: Hardik Pandya’s romantic birthday wish for girlfriend Mahieka Sharma is breaking the internet
