India’s heavy defeat to the South Africa national cricket team in the Super 8 stage of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 has triggered a fresh wave of criticism around the team’s tactics and ability to handle pressure in high-stakes run chases. Failing to hunt down a challenging target of 188 in Ahmedabad exposed several tactical concerns, particularly around India’s batting approach and team balance.
Former Pakistan batter Ahmed Shehzad believes the current Indian side is clearly missing the presence of Virat Kohli, who built a reputation as one of the finest chasers in white-ball cricket. Kohli’s ability to control a chase and absorb pressure earned him the famous nickname “Chasemaster,” and Shehzad believes India are now feeling that void.
Speaking on the television show Haarna Mana Hai, Shehzad reflected on Kohli’s influence in pressure situations.
“We said on this very show that it wouldn’t be easy to fill the shoes of Virat Kohli,” Ahmed Shehzad said. “Only when he leaves do you realise what kind of player he was — a king. Chasing runs is not an ordinary task. God gave him a special ability; he never allowed the pressure to affect anyone else. He would carry the team single-handedly. That’s why he was called the ‘King’. Now that he’s not there, what is happening to the team?”
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Ahmed Shehzad further analysed India’s batting struggles during run chases and claimed that the defending champions appear uncomfortable when pursuing big totals.
“First, Kohli is no longer there. Second, the team does not look comfortable when chasing. This is a side with very little experience. When they bat aggressively first, they sometimes manage to perform. But when scoreboard pressure builds during a chase, they struggle. Virat Kohli was a master at it,” he said.
The former Pakistan opener also pointed out a possible tactical imbalance in India’s lineup, suggesting that the presence of multiple left-handers at the top has made it easier for opposition teams to exploit match-ups.
“They are playing too many left-handers together. When someone like Aiden Markram gets an early wicket, it adds even more pressure,” Ahmed Shehzad added.
Shehzad didn’t stop there, questioning the role of India head coach Gautam Gambhir and how the team’s resources are being managed during the tournament.
“The team resources are not being used properly – Gautam Gambhir is not managing them as well. You have a match-winner like Kuldeep Yadav, but he’s not being handled correctly,” he said.
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Referring to an on-field moment involving India captain Suryakumar Yadav and Kuldeep during an earlier game, Shehzad speculated about possible internal reasons behind the spinner’s absence.
“There was an incident after the Pakistan game where Suryakumar Yadav pushed him. People are now saying that perhaps Kuldeep Yadav was dropped because of a disciplinary issue or a problem with Suryakumar Yadav. Otherwise, he would not have been left out. Kuldeep Yadav brings variation and is a match-winner,” he said.
