India batting woes deepen as Sharma “passes zeroes baton” to Kishan
Former India assistant coach Abhishek Nayar said Abhishek Sharma has “passed the baton of zeroes” to in-form Ishan Kishan after India’s 76-run loss to South Africa in their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup Super 8 clash at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Feb. 23, 2026, highlighting continued top-order struggles that threaten India’s campaign.
India were dismissed for 111 chasing 188, with Marco Jansen’s four-wicket haul and Keshav Maharaj’s three scalps exposing early batting frailties. Nayar said India’s openers’ recent failures mean pressure now shifts to even their in-form batters to deliver in key moments.
“It’s going to be a very uncomfortable discussion … because suddenly he has passed the baton of the zeroes to Ishan Kishan, someone who was in prime form,” Nayar said on the top-order challenge. “We need better plans against quality spin in upcoming games.”
Despite the setback, India still have matches ahead and will look to recalibrate their lineup as they chase semi-final qualification, with senior voices urging adaptability and resilience from the beleaguered batting unit