India’s T20 World Cup dreams faltered with a humiliating 76-run thrashing by South Africa in their Super-8 clash at Ahmedabad. As questions swirled around the team composition post-loss, assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate pulled no punches on dropping star all-rounder Axar Patel.
‘Our combination was shaped by South Africa’s leftie-laden top order,’ Doeschate revealed. Facing de Kock, Rickelton, and Miller, India opted for off-spinner Washington Sundar in the powerplay. Data showed Sundar’s edge: 23 scalps in 57 powerplay stints against lefties, trumping Axar’s 14 from 62.
Axar shines brighter in the middle overs, snaring 63 wickets in 79 games to Sundar’s 23 in 48. He could’ve reined in the scoring and added lower-order firepower. Instead, Sundar struggled—17 runs off two overs, no wickets, and a measly 11 runs batting.
South Africa capitalized on the toss, smashing 187/7. India folded for 111, leaving their knockout hopes in jeopardy.
Doeschate’s candid admission underscores T20’s brutal balancing act: powerplay priorities over middle-over mastery. Will India rethink for upcoming games? The pressure mounts.