Abhishek or Tilak will be removed, Sanju Samson will return! Team India in mood for change after defeat against SA

T20 World Cup 2026: On Sunday, India lost by 76 runs in the Super-8 match against South Africa at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. South Africa had scored 187 runs after losing 7 wickets, in response to which India was all out for just 111 runs.

This is India’s first and biggest defeat so far in this tournament, due to which the path to the semi-finals has now become difficult for the team. Meanwhile, the discussion regarding Sanju Samson has intensified.

batting weakness exposed

India’s batting proved to be a complete flop. While chasing 188 runs, the team faltered from the very beginning. Opener Abhishek Sharma has been out on zero thrice in the last four matches. Tilak Verma also could not play any big innings in the top order.

In the last three matches, India has already lost wickets in the first over because the opposition teams are starting with part-time off-spinners. Due to this the pressure on the team has increased a lot.

Assistant coach gave signal

In the press conference after the match, assistant coach Ryan ten Deschate revealed that the team was troubled by the early wickets. He said that there is an option to bring Sanju Samson in the playing eleven. Being a right-handed batsman will bring balance to the top order and provide tactical advantage.

The coach suggested two options – either trust the players who have performed well in the last 18 months, or bring Sanju back. There will be serious talks on this before the next two important matches.

Sanju’s figures are a matter of concern

There is a strong demand to bring Sanju Samson into the team, but his recent performances are not good. From 2025 till now, he has scored only 156 runs in 12 innings as an opener. The average was only 13. In most of these innings, he could not last long after the powerplay. Nevertheless, his experience and right-handed batting can benefit the team.

India’s next match against Zimbabwe

India’s next match is against Zimbabwe on 26 February in Chennai. It is very important to win this match to make it to the semi-finals. Now the big question before the team management is whether to continue trusting Abhishek and Tilak or use Sanju Samson as a ‘trump card’. Fans are also demanding Sanju’s return. It remains to be seen whether the coaching staff makes major changes or keeps faith in the old players.