as ICC T20 World Cup 2026 kicks into high gear, the Super 8 round offers a mouth-watering clash between two undefeated heavyweights: India and South Africa. The fixture, to be played at the famous Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday, February 22, carries significant weight for the Men in Blue as they seek to defend their crown. Amidst the tactical noise, former Indian wicketkeeper and noted commentator Deep in Dasgupta focused on the selection headaches faced by the Indian management, particularly regarding the balance of the bowling attack.
Deep Dasgupta announces India XI picks for Super 8 clash with South Africa
Dasgupta believes that India’s final XI will depend on two “interrelated” decisions, primarily the selection of spin-bowling all-rounders. Akhar Patel and Washington Sundar. According to Dasgupta, the selection is not just about the individual players but how they facilitate the use of India’s spearhead. jasprit bumrah.
“If Arshdeep Singh is playing, he can go with Axar Patel,” Dasgupta mentioned during an interaction with Star Sports. However, he claimed that if the team decides to keep Arshdeep in reserve to strengthen another department, Sundar will be the main option. This is because of Sundar’s new ball handling skills. With Washington winning with the initial power play, the captain Suryakumar Yadav then gets the ‘freedom’ to protect Bumrah’s four overs for high impact phases in the innings.
Dasgupta also pointed out that South Africa’s batting line-up consists of left-handers. Quinton de Kock, Ryan Rickeltonand David Miller– Makes a convincing case for Washington’s fraud. He observed that Washington was likely given a game against the Netherlands to participate in this particular tactical encounter. Importantly, Dasgupta assured the fans that picking Sundar over Akhar will not hurt the team’s batting depth, “Washington is not a bat either” in the number eight position.
Also READ: T20 World Cup 2026: R Ashwin reflects on India’s form, highlights bright signs ahead of Super 8
India’s dominant streak with an unbeaten streak till the Super 8s
India enters the Super 8 stage on a huge wave of momentum, having finished the group stage with a perfect record. Their journey through Group A was a testament to their clinical consistency, with four wins in as many matches.
The Men in Blue started the campaign with their 29th win USAthen won against 93 Namibia. A high tension clash against arch rivals Pakistan It saw India win by 61 runs in Colombo. In the last group match against Netherlands in Ahmedabad, India posted a magnificent 193/6. Shivam Dubey‘s explosive 66 off 31 balls. Despite a frantic chase from the Dutch, India held their nerve to win by 17 runs and extend their T20I winning streak to an incredible 12 matches.
This unbeaten run has been defined by a different ‘Man of the Match’ in almost every game. Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya for Ishan Kishi and Dube showcase a cast where everyone contributes to a collective goal.
Deep Dasgupta’s Predicted India XI:
Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah
