India assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate has indicated that the team management could rethink its playing XI following the 76-run defeat to South Africa in the T20 World Cup Super 8 clash at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
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The loss not only ended India’s winning streak but also complicated their path to the semi-finals, making the remaining Super 8 fixtures must-win encounters for Suryakumar Yadav’s side.
Selection dilemma: stick or twist?
Addressing the media after the match, ten Doeschate spoke about the possibility of bringing Sanju Samson back into the XI to restore a left-right combination at the top of the order. Samson has featured in just one game so far in the tournament.
The assistant coach admitted that the think tank faces a tough call, whether to persist with the current combination that has delivered consistently over the past 18 months, or make tactical changes in response to recent struggles.
“There’s a lot of inexperience in the group and ideally you want a settled side. These players have done it before and they’re fantastic cricketers. So the question is — do you stick with the guys who have performed well over the last year and a half but are slightly short on runs at the moment? Or do you twist and bring in Sanju, who is also a quality player and offers tactical flexibility with a right-hander at the top?” ten Doeschate said.
He added that discussions around team balance will intensify ahead of the next two crucial fixtures.
Abhishek Sharma, who had registered three consecutive ducks earlier in the tournament, managed 15 off 12 balls against South Africa but struggled against spin before falling to Marco Jansen. His opening partner, Ishan Kishan, who had been in impressive form prior to the game, was dismissed for a duck.
With India now under pressure to win their remaining matches, the team management faces a critical decision: back their current core or reshuffle in a bid to reignite momentum.
