Irfan Pathan Criticizes India After 76-Run Defeat to South Africa, following a catastrophic batting collapse in the Super Eight stage. The former all-rounder highlighted recurring issues in the Men in Blue campaign, pointing out that India’s batting struggles were exposed by South Africa’s bowling attack. Fans and experts alike echoed Pathan’s frustration after the Ahmedabad cricket match at the Narendra Modi Stadium.
The match ended in a 76-run defeat, snapping India’s 12-match winning streak in T20 World Cups. Marco Jansen led South Africa’s bowlers with a brilliant four-wicket haul, demonstrating the Proteas dominance. The Indian national cricket team folded for just 111 runs while chasing a formidable target of 188, leaving defending champions India under immense pressure. This heavy loss placed India at the bottom of Group 1, with a damaging Net Run Rate of -3.800, raising concerns about their semi-final qualification chances.
Irfan Pathan’s reaction emphasized the recurring problem throughout the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. He criticized both strategy and execution, stressing that the batting collapse was not a one-off incident. The defeat highlighted weaknesses in Team India’s lineup and revealed vulnerabilities thatthe South Africa national cricket team exploited expertly. Analysts also pointed out that India must improve quickly in their upcoming matches vs Zimbabwe and the West Indies cricket team to remain in contention.
The loss served as a wake-up call for the Men in Blue campaign. India’s shattered invincibility in the Super 8 opener signals high-stakes qualification matches ahead. If the team addresses these batting struggles and strengthens their strategy, they may still revive their T20 World Cup 2026 journey.
