T20 WC 2026: Nayar raises concerns over Team India`s opening duo`s struggle

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In the Super 8 match of the T20 World Cup 2026 against South Africa, Team India suffered a loss by 76 runs at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

During the match, Team India`s in-form opening batsman Ishan Kishan departed on a four-ball duck. Fellow opening batsman Abhishek Sharma was also dismissed on 15 runs in 12 balls, including two boundaries and a maximum.

Considering that both the opening batsmen departed on low scores, former cricketer Abhishek Nayar feels that Ishan and Abhishek will definitely discuss about who is going to take the strike in the upcoming match.

“It`s going to be a very uncomfortable discussion between Ishan Kishan and Abhishek as to who takes the strike because suddenly he has passed the baton of the zeroes to Ishan Kishan, someone who was in prime form. But this is a problem for India,” he said.

Team India`s upcoming fixture is against Zimbabwe. After concluding with the clash against Zimbabwe, the “Men in Blue” will lock horns with the West Indies on March 1. Ahead of the match against the Caribbeans, Nayar said that Roston Chase will bowl in the powerplay, and the Indian batsmen need to have plans against him.

“There is definitely going to be a discussion about how they can overcome an off-spinner bowling to them because, keep in mind, when they take on the West Indies as well, Roston Chase is going to bowl in the powerplay to them. So they will want to come back with better plans. With the newer ball, when you hit the seam at times as a finger spinner, you can get that extra bounce, and that`s the tricky part. If it`s slightly slower in the air, like we saw there, and the ball hits the seam and deviates even a bit, that`s enough in T20 cricket to get you out because it creates doubt and can earn you a wicket,” said the 42-year-old former cricketer.

Team India`s loss of 76 runs against South Africa has tightened their qualification scenarios for the semi-finals of the global showpiece. The “Men in Blue” will have to win the remaining two games with a good net run rate to keep their hopes of defending the T20 World Cup alive.

T20 World Cup 2026, Super 8: Team India`s upcoming fixture

The clash against Zimbabwe is scheduled to be played on February 26 at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai.

(With ANI Inputs)

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