India may tweak T20 World Cup XI after Super 8 mauling
India assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate hinted at possible playing XI changes for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 after the team’s heavy Super 8 defeat to South Africa on Feb. 23 in Ahmedabad, saying it’s “time to pull our sleeves up” and reassess the struggling batting unit.
India were bundled out for 111 chasing 188, exposing a left-hand-heavy top order that has faltered repeatedly. Ten Doeschate suggested adding a right-handed option like Sanju Samson could balance the lineup ahead of crucial games against Zimbabwe and the West Indies.
“We’ve looked at how teams have opened and the pressure early wickets put on the middle,” he said, stressing the need for tactical tweaks and improved execution.
Captain Suryakumar Yadav vowed a stronger bounce-back, “We’ll come back stronger,” while former greats have warned India must rapidly fix flaws or risk early exit.
With semi-final hopes on the line, strategic shifts and better starts will be key for India’s survival in the T20 World Cup race.