India has advanced to the Super 8 stage of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 with an unbeaten record. Former off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has shared his views on the team’s current form ahead of their important match against South Africa on February 22. Through his YouTube channel, ‘Ash ki Baat’, Ashwin has discussed the team’s performances, selection issues, and challenges faced in the tournament’s next phase.
India’s perfect record: The good, the bad and the unconvincing
India finished the group stage with four solid wins, topping Group A with victories over the USA, Namibia, Pakistan, and the Netherlands. However, Ashwin feels the team has not reached its best, particularly in batting. After the 17-run win against the Netherlands on February 18, he mentioned that the batting was “below par” despite the success.
“India wasn’t extremely good today with the bat, not extremely efficient. But it is such a solid team that even on an ordinary day, they can put you away. They were below par, not at their best,” he remarked.
Abhishek Sharma’s form: The elephant in the room
A key concern heading into the Super 8s is opener Abhishek Sharma’s poor run of form. He has recorded three consecutive ducks, a first for an Indian opener in T20 World Cup history. In the match against the Netherlands, he was dismissed by off-spinner Aryan Dutt, continuing a troubling trend.
Despite this, Ashwin has urged patience, arguing that dropping Abhishek would be unwise. “This is Abhishek’s game. It happens. He has scored runs before. It would be a mistake to remove him from the team now. When he is on form, he wins games for India within the powerplay,” he stated.
Ashwin pointed out a strategy opposition teams are using against Abhishek. They are sending in off-spinners early to limit his ability to make aggressive shots.
“Abhishek tries to swing. So an off-spinner bowling tightly has become a trend. When I bowled three overs against him earlier, it was effective. This approach is becoming common.” Ashwin noted that this is not a technical issue but rather a phase Abhishek needs to get through. He expressed hope that Abhishek will regain his scoring ability soon.
Batting depth: India’s greatest strength
Despite concerns regarding the top order, Ashwin emphasized India’s strong batting depth as a critical asset. During the match against the Netherlands, when Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma struggled, the middle order stepped up.
“Surya played a very diligent knock. Dube, Hardik, and Rinku were there to help catch up on the scoring rate,” Ashwin remarked.
With Shivam Dube scoring 66 off 31 balls and Hardik Pandya contributing, India’s batting unit showed their resilience even on a challenging day.
Tilak Varma’s role: Timing over power
Ashwin also discussed the importance of different batting styles, particularly Tilak Varma’s return from injury. Critics have questioned his lack of power-hitting compared to his teammates, but Ashwin defended his approach.
“Tilak is not a big power hitter. His focus is on timing and finding gaps,” he explained, highlighting the importance of varying batting techniques based on match conditions.
Bowling strength: The unsung hero
While batting issues are a topic of concern, India’s bowling attack has performed strongly throughout the group stage. Kuldeep Yadav’s return has enhanced the spin options alongside Varun Chakravarthy and Axar Patel.
Kuldeep is close to becoming India’s highest wicket-taking spinner in T20Is, needing only two more wickets to surpass Yuzvendra Chahal’s tally of 96. His ability to create turn and bounce is vital as matches progress in the Super 8s, where conditions will vary.
Jasprit Bumrah’s control and Hardik Pandya’s pace round out a well-balanced attack, which Ashwin believes can defend any score.
India’s fixtures in the Super 8 round
India will kickoff their Super 8 campaign with a match against South Africa on February 22 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, a rematch of the 2024 T20 World Cup final. Following this, they will face Zimbabwe in Chennai on February 26 and wrap up the group stage against the West Indies in Kolkata on March 1.
