India may have gone through the group stages unbeaten, but former India all-rounder Varun Aaron believes a worrying mistake could haunt them when the T20 World Cup moves into the knockout stages.
Despite winning all four of their group games and sealing the Super 8 berth in style, India’s lapses in catching proved to be a recurring problem. India’s batting and bowling units have largely delivered, but their fielding standards have raised vexing questions ahead of the business end, when one missed chance can decide the tournament.
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Speaking to ESPNcricinfo, Aaron did not hold back in assessing India’s struggles in the outfield.
“Massive problem. India are by far the worst catching team in the last 12 months or maybe 18 months. Their catch percentage is below 70. They drop at least 2-3 catches every game. I just hope they don’t lose important catches in the Super 8 and semis,” Aaron said.
India’s recent win against the Netherlands offered another example. Zach Lion-Cachet was given two lives, first after a miscommunication between skipper Suryakumar Yadav and Rinku Singh led to a collision and a dropped catch, and then again when Tilak Verma spilled another chance in the final over.
India still managed to beat the Netherlands by 17 runs to complete a perfect group stage, but repeated mistakes added an unwanted layer of concern before the tougher opponents arrive.
INDIAN FIELD WORRIES BEFORE SUPER 8s
Despite the perfect record, The Men in Blue have already taken nine catches in their four matches in the group stage, the second most of any team in this T20 World Cup, behind only Ireland (10). Namibia dropped by six in comparison.
The stats are worrying for a side that is otherwise firing in most departments. With the Super 8s bringing stronger batting lineups and tighter contests, those missed opportunities could be much more costly. Once the tournament reaches the knockout stage, the margin for error will reduce significantly and India will not want to carry that burden any further.
Aaron’s comments echo wider concerns that India’s hunting efficiency has declined over the past year, and the numbers at this World Cup have only reinforced that trend.
WHAT NEXT FOR INDIA IN SUPER 8S?
India did the hard work in the group stage, dominating their section with four wins out of four and looking balanced in most departments.
They will now head into the Super 8s with a sensational showdown against South Africa, their opponents from the 2024 T20 World Cup finals to be held in Ahmedabad. Going forward, India will face the likes of West Indies, Zimbabwe, opponents who could cause trouble for the Suryakumar-led side if their catch concerns persist.
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Issued by:
Debodinna Chakraborty
Published on:
February 19, 2026