Former Pakistan fast bowler Shoaib Akhtar criticized India’s bowling strategy during the T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8 match against South Africa. The Men in Blue suffered their first defeat of the tournament as the Proteas thumped them by 76 runs.
India’s bowling was exposed once their trump card Varun Chakravarthy was dismantled by David Miller and Dewald Brevis as he recorded the third-highest figures of his career (1/47). As a result, the pressure mounted on the fifth and sixth bowling options, with Hardik Pandya (0/45) and Shivam Dube (1/32 in two overs) conceding heavily.
After India’s poor show with the ball, Akhtar criticized the team management for turning to Dube and Pandya during the death.
“Hardik and Shivam Dube bowled at around 120km/h. It’s not like they’re Malcolm Marshall – someone to intimidate a batting line-up of South Africa’s calibre. If you put them in the death overs, that kind of counter-attack from the Proteas is inevitable,” he said on Tapmad.
Akhtar also suggested that India bring in Kuldeep Yadav in the playing eleven as another wicket option.
“India’s bowling has been exposed. If you look at Varun, whose strength is bowling at 97-98km/h, he was clocking 94. And when he came into the attack, he was hit by Dewald Brevis for a zero six. The missing link is Kuldeep Yadav. He is someone who can fool batsmen in the air when needed and pick up a proven spin.
Should India play Kuldeep?
Kuldeep has featured in only one match of the tournament so faragainst Pakistan where he finished with figures of 1/14 in three overs. However, he was replaced by Arshdeep Singh in the last two matches against Netherlands and South Africa.
It remains to be seen whether India will bring Kuldeep back to the spin-friendly Chennai surface to win matches against Zimbabwe and the West Indies. The team management is already under scrutiny for sitting Axar Patel against South Africa and playing Washington Sundar in his place. So captain Suryakumar Yadav has a lot to consider in terms of team mix ahead of the next match.
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Issued by:
Rishabh Beniwal
Published on:
February 24, 2026
