Manjrekar Questions Gambhir’s Washington Sundar Strategy After India’s Heavy Loss to South Africa
AP
India’s T20 World Cup campaign suffered a major setback after a crushing 76-run defeat to South Africa in their Super 8 opener in Ahmedabad, prompting strong criticism from former India batter Sanjay Manjrekar over team tactics. The loss, described as India’s heaviest in T20 World Cup history, has left the defending champions facing a must-win situation in the remaining fixtures.
Manjrekar took particular aim at head coach Gautam Gambhir’s reliance on all-rounder Washington Sundar. During India’s chase of 188, Sundar was promoted to No. 5 following a top-order collapse, a decision that raised eyebrows as vice-captain Axar Patel was overlooked. The move also pushed finishers like Rinku Singh and Hardik Pandya further down the order.
While analysing the match on television, Manjrekar compared Sundar’s role to an all-purpose Ayurvedic medicine, suggesting the team management was using him as a solution for multiple issues. He argued that the tactical reshuffle disrupted India’s batting structure at a crucial stage of the chase.
South Africa’s bowling attack exposed India’s difficulties against pace variations, with Lungi Ngidi’s slower deliveries proving particularly effective. Manjrekar highlighted that India’s batters, including captain Suryakumar Yadav, struggled to handle slower balls and spin, calling it a key area that needs immediate correction.
The defeat has significantly dented India’s net run rate and placed pressure on the squad’s campaign momentum. Entering the tournament as favourites to defend their title, the team now faces Zimbabwe in a high-stakes encounter where both victory and margin will be critical for semi-final qualification.
With tactical decisions under scrutiny and batting concerns emerging, India’s response in the next match could define their tournament trajectory.