What will happen if India suffer another batting collapse in the 2026 T20 World Cup? Anil Kumble has a solution and says India must promote Hardik Pandya in such a scenario. The Indian team struggled for consistency with the bat throughout the tournament and suffered innings collapses in the first five matches. After losing to South Africa, India were left at 26 for three and opted to send Sundar to Washington.
The experiment failed as Sundar was unable to face the pressurehe scored 11 off 11 and by the time he was dismissed, India had slipped to 43 for four in 7.2 overs while chasing 188. Speaking to TV stations, Kumble said it was time for India to trust Hardik in the role instead of going for a stopwatch.
INDIA’S TEST BY SPIN IN CHENNAI
The former India coach feels that the all-rounder has the ability to face the pressure and put India in a winning position.
“God forbid, if India get into the same position they started against South Africa, I’d like to see Hardik Pandya come in at that point and not someone else as a stopgap to take the pressure off.”
“Hardik Pandya is able to handle that pressure and also put the game in a winning position. So I think those are some of the points that I think India should look at if they get into that situation against Zimbabwe or West Indies, but they have to play their A game,” Kumble said.
Kumble is right because Hardik has a fantastic record of getting to No. 4 and No. 5 for India. The all-rounder scored 131 runs in six matches while batting at No.4 at an average of 43.66 and a strike rate of 238.18.
Ranked fifth, the 32-year-old has 1208 runs at an average of over 30 and a strike rate of 154.47.
Has India yet to bring its A-game?
Kumble also hinted that India are yet to bring their best game into the tournament, pointing to how they let South Africa off the hook after reducing them to 20 for three.
“I think India will definitely have to bring their A-game. They haven’t done that so far in this tournament. I felt tactically they were a bit against South Africa. When you’re 20 for 3, the opposition, you have to look at that moment, try and go for the kill,” Kumble said.
India will face Zimbabwe in their next Super 8 clash in Chennai on February 26.
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Published on:
February 25, 2026
