At the beginning of the T20 World Cup 2026, the batting of the Indian team was not looking good. India could not score 200 against associate teams like America and Netherlands. After this, Team India was limited to 111 against South Africa in the Super-8 stage, due to which its title defense campaign was in danger. However, the batsmen picked up the rhythm at the right time and now the team is going to face New Zealand in the final. The title match is to be played today (8 March) at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
Even though the Indian team has scored 250 plus twice in the last three matches, off-spinners still remain a big headache. Especially Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan are struggling against off spin. Abhishek became the victim of part-timer Will Jacques in the semi-final against England. Ishaan has been out against off-spinners 5 times in this tournament.
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Team India is in bad shape in front of off spin.
The Indian team has lost 15 wickets to off-spin in this T20 World Cup, which is the highest. Team India has scored runs against off-spin bowlers at an average of 15.87 and strike rate of 120.20. The Indian team is the worst in terms of average against off-spinners. Talking about strike rate, it is the worst among the teams that have reached Super-8.
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Everyone including Abhishek-Ishaan is worried
Abhishek Sharma is scoring runs against off spin in this tournament at an average of 9.67 and strike rate of 107.41. He has also been out three times in 27 balls. At the same time, Ishaan’s average against off-spinners is only 13.
Not only Abhishek-Ishaan but Suryakumar Yadav is also worried. Despite being a right-handed batsman, Surya is able to score runs against off-spin at a strike rate of only 114.71. If we talk about Tilak Verma, who has been pushed down the batting order, his strike rate is worse. His strike rate against off-spinners is only 97.73. Hardik Pandya has become the victim of off-spinner twice in 8 balls.
Will the story change in the final?
Considering the weakness of the Indian team in front of off-spin, the New Zealand team would definitely like to take advantage of it. Although he has only part-timers in the form of Cole McConchie and Glenn Phillips, considering the poor performance of Team India, even these can prove to be a burden. McConchie gave New Zealand the lead in the semi-final against South Africa by taking the wickets of Quinton de Kock and Ryan Rickleton in the same over. Whereas Phillips has taken 3 wickets in 5 innings.
Team India will have to deal with this weakness to win the trophy. With two left-handers in the top-3, Sanju Samson will have to take additional responsibility and his job will be to not allow the off-spinners to settle.
If the Indian team wants, they can promote Shivam Dubey in the batting order like in the semi-finals, who has not been out even once against off-spin in this tournament. However, there will be a risk in this, because if either Sanju or Surya is not at the crease, then two left-handers can be seen batting together, which will again make the conditions favorable for the off-spinners.
Probable playing XI of both the teams:
India – Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wicketkeeper), Ishan Kishan, Tilak Verma, Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dubey, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakraborty/Kuldeep Yadav/Mohammed Siraj.
New Zealand – Tim Seifert (wk), Finn Allen, Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Mitchell Santner (c), Cole McConchie, Jimmy Neesham/Jacob Duffy, Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson
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