Ever since Gautam Gambhir took charge of team selection, the strategy has leaned heavily toward including all-rounders.
Former India coach Ravi Shastri considers the defeat against South Africa in the Super 8s as a blessing in disguise and feels the "shakeup" was much needed for the defending champions to "reflect and reset" going into the business end of the T20 World Cup. India will be desperate to make a strong comeback against Zimbabwe here on Thursday after the heavy 76-run defeat at the hands of South Africa in their Super 8 opener in Ahmedabad on Sunday. The loss against the Proteas, incidentally, was India's first defeat after 12 successive victories across the last two editions of the T20 World Cup. "You win 12 matches on the trot, there's bound to be an off day. And I'm glad it has come early. It might just be the shakeup India needed," Shastri told on the latest episode of The ICC Review. "It might also make them rethink their strategy as to the composition of the side going ahead. "They would have learned from that last experience that they're not going to take things for granted beca
If Pakistan qualify for the semi-finals, they will feature in Semi-final 1 in Colombo on March 4. In that scenario, Colombo becomes the confirmed venue for the fixture.
India's press conference on the eve of the match at 4 PM IST is likely to shed more light on the XI but before that Business Standard take a look at cues from the practice session.
Check all the matches and results from T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8 Group 1 here.
Middle-order batter Rinku Singh on Tuesday returned home, owing to an emergency situation in the family, BCCI sources informed PTI. Rinku did not attend India's training session at the MA Chidambaram Stadium here, while rest of his colleagues were present at the nets. "Rinku Singh has flown back home from Chennai due to a family emergency. He did not join India's practice session at the Chepauk," the source close to the development said. As per sources, Rinku's father Khanchand Singh is reportedly admitted in a hospital in Greater Noida in serious condition and hence the player had to rush back. Rinku's sudden departure from the camp has raised doubts over the left-hander's availability for India's must-win Super Eights match against Zimbabwe here on Thursday. An underwhelming Rinku had made a duck in India's 76-run defeat against South Africa at Ahmedabad, while he made six in the group match against the Netherlands in New Delhi. Before that he made 11 against Pakistan, 1 agains
To qualify for the semi-finals of ICC T20 World Cup 2026, India need to win their remaining two matches - against Zimbabwe and West Indies - by big margins.
South Africa ended India's 12-match unbeaten run in the tournament with a commanding win, built around a composed partnership between Dewald Brevis and David Miller.
Asked about the key areas India would revisit, Ten Doeschate said the foremost challenge was adjusting to wickets that do not suit their usual style of play.
We thought the biggest threat was going to come from Quinton de Kock and Ryan Rickelton and David Miller and that's why Sundar was picked ahead of Axar, says India assistant coach ten Doeschate
South Africa beat India by 76 runs in their opening T20 World Cup Super 8 encounter in Ahmedabad.
Marco Jansen starred with the ball, claiming a four-wicket haul, including the crucial scalps of Bumrah and Dube in the final over, while Keshav Maharaj picked up key wickets in a destructive spell.
With those breakthroughs, Bumrah's tally in the tournament climbed to 33 wickets, placing him at the top of India's all-time list in the competition.
In T20 World Cups, India's highest successful chase in the city came against South Africa in Mirpur during the 2014 edition, where they reached 173, showcasing their ability to chase under pressure.
Indian women's team wants to consistently stay at the top and dominate world cricket, said vice-captain Smriti Mandhana. Riding high on their maiden 50-over World Cup triumph, the Women in Blue have now set their sights on winning the T20 World Cup later this year. They began the year with a T20 series win against Australia, their first series triumph over the formidable rivals in a decade. "This Indian team is something which we have spoken about is trying to be consistent. Don't think about opposition or what's happened in the past. So we've beaten this, we've beaten that. I feel that's not very important now," Mandhana said on BCCI.tv "I think we are on the verge of a transition where we want to dominate world cricket. And whoever we beat, wherever we beat, that doesn't matter. We just want to be consistent in beating them and being at the top," she added. In the series-deciding third T20, Mandhana played a match-setting 82 and, alongside Jemimah who contributed 59, forged a ..
From qualification rules to confirmed teams and Super 8 schedule, here's a quick guide to the ICC T20 World Cup 2026's next round
India vice-captain Smriti Mandhana said the bold approach of Jemimah Rodrigues helped her find the perfect rhythm after a tepid beginning to the innings, which played a defining role in her side's thrilling 17-run victory over Australia in the third and final T20I here on Saturday. Mandhana played a match-setting 82 and, alongside Jemimah who contributed 59, forged a 121-run partnership that propelled India to 176 for 6 before the bowlers stifled Australia for 159 for 9. "When she came in, I think I was 16-ball 15 (runs) and still getting my timing and she came in, got three or four boundaries, got the momentum going and I could take some time," Mandhana said in the post-match presentation. "Those small things don't really get noticed, but I feel when she (Jemimah) came in and got those quick 2-3 boundaries, it calmed me down as well. So, credit to her for coming in and playing that sort of a knock," said Mandhana about her innings, which helped India win its first T20I series Down
When asked about what Team India's biggest worry is ahead of the clash, Surya had a direct and one-word answer to the question - 'None.'
Surya mentioned that the team wants Abhishek to play with a set template, and the southpaw is just trying to deliver that
Zimbabwe assistant coach Dion Ebrahim said his side has ticked all the right boxes in preparation and is comfortable being labelled the underdogs ahead of their Super 8 clash against India, adding that the key would be to not get overwhelmed by the occasion. Zimbabwe defeated Sri Lanka by six wickets to top Group B. They will face reigning champions India, two-time champions West Indies and 2024 finalists South Africa in the Super 8. "I think rankings and every other measurement will state us as the underdogs which is perfectly fine. I think when we came into the World Cup this year, we were definitely the underdogs in the group and it's a place we like to operate in," Ebrahim said. "I think Sikandar touched on it a few days ago; that the benefit of being the underdogs is that we go into those games or that particular game with no pressure really because all the pressure sits with the India team in India in conditions which they are familiar with, a format which they have been ...