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“Messed Up on a Grand Scale”: Ten Doeschate Demands a Big Bounce Back to Keep World Cup Hopes Alive

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Ryan ten Doeschate at the press conference. Source ( RevSportz) The Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad witnessed a sobering reality check for the Men in Blue as South Africa handed them a crushing 76-run defeat in their opening Super 8 clash of the T20 World Cup. What was anticipated to be a fierce contest quickly unravelled into a one-sided affair. The magnitude of the loss has not only severely dented India’s Net Run Rate (NRR), a factor that could prove decisive if multiple teams finish level on points, but has also turned their upcoming fixtures against Zimbabwe and the West Indies into high-stakes, must-win encounters. Following the collapse, India’s assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate addressed the media in a candid post-match press conference, shedding light on the tactical miscalculations, the fragility at the top of the order, and the significant challenge now confronting the coaching staff. One of the major talking points before the match was the omission of vice-captain...
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IND vs SA: “You cannot win the game in the powerplay but you can lose it” – Suryakumar after humiliating loss

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India vs South Africa (PC: BCCI) Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav remained calm and aimed for improvement after South Africa defeated India by 76 runs in the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup 2026 on February 22 in Ahmedabad. The defeat broke India’s unbeaten streak in the tournament as they began the Super Eight stage with a loss. During the post-match presentation, Suryakumar addressed the result and said, “We were always in the game when we started. Bowled really well in the beginning. From 7-15, they batted really well and then we come back. Bowled really wellbut could have batted better. Sometimes, you have to think you cannot win the game in the powerplay but you can lose it. Did not have the partnerships we needed. Part of the game. We will learn from it. Sit back and bounce back.” Praising Arshdeep Singh and Jasprit Bumrah, he added, “Everyone knows their combination has been lethal. Both bowled eight overs, picked five wickets and gave up 45-50 runs. They bowl well in partnerships...
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Hafeez Criticises Mike Hesson’s Statement on Babar Azam

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Babar_Azam (PC: ICC/X) Former Pakistan all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez has criticised head coach Mike Hesson for his recent remarks about Babar Azam’s role in the team. Ahead of Pakistan’s Super Eight match against New Zealand in the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, Hesson addressed the media and clarified Babar’s batting position. The Pakistan white-ball coach said that Babar is not opening the batting due to his low strike rate. Taking a jibe at the remarks, Hafeez said on the show Game On Hai: “He made a statement about Babar Azam that I didn’t understand. He said he’s not a powerplay batter because his strike rate is 100… I read this statement 15 times, but I still didn’t understand it, which is why I am asking you, as you are like an elder brother, maybe you’ll understand. He said that Babar can’t bat in the first six overs because his strike rate is quite low; he gave that stat, nor can he bat after the 10th over. Toh woh khel kyun raha hai? (Why is he playing?)” Hesson told r...
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Pressure, Philosophy and the Super 8s: Inside India’s Home World Cup Mindset

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  During Team India’s practice session. Image: Debasis Sen Playing a World Cup at home is a privilege but it arrives gift-wrapped in high expectations. For Suryakumar Yadav, the Indian skipper who has been taking a backseat – not playing his natural cricket, and taking on a more conservative role – there is no attempt to disguise that reality. “It is very difficult to say that there is no pressure or it is easy to handle,” he admitted on the eve of the Super 8 stage. “When you are playing such a big event on your home soil, you definitely feel pressure. It is not that you can run away from it.” The pressure here is not abstract, it is tangible. It is felt when the team walks through a new hotel lobby, it is felt when the team bus drives through a throng of fans, and it is felt the most when a player  walks out on the field with thousands of fans expecting them to win the game. Fans constantly remind players of the shared goals. “Of course, there is pressure,” Suryakum...
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T20 World Cup 2026: Backing Abhishek Sharma – Why Gautam Gambhir Is Key to Ending the Slump

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  Gautam Gambhir with Abhishek Sharma during India’s practice session. Image :X The focus is singularly on Abhishek Sharma as India take on South Africa in Ahmedabad. Three consecutive ducks, and it could very well become a mental thing for the aggressive opener leading into the Super 8 stage. Each one of us is human and failure is bound to impact you mentally. That’s where self-doubt creeps in. You start to ask questions of yourself and begin overthinking. It is very natural for anyone to do so. Social media doesn’t help, for it gives poison a platform. People are always baying for your blood, and the negatives on social media far outweigh the positives. This is where Abhishek needs Gautam Gambhir the most. Gambhir went through a similar slump during the 2014 IPL as skipper of Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR). By his own admission, it was one of the worst moments of his career and it also made him insecure. Sample this from him: “That’s when I felt pressure. When I was out for th...
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2026 T20 World Cup: “Shame for them” – Jacob Bethell on Australia’s early exit

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Jacob Bethell (PC: X) Jacob Bethell’s cheeky remark on Australia’s early exit from the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup has gone viral on social media. In a recent video, the 22-year-old was speaking to BBC Test Match Special and said it was a shame for Australia not to make the Super Eight stage. Bethell said: “It was good to see. They just didn’t seem like they got firing in the tournament. And in those group stage matches if you don’t hit the ground running, you’re in danger of that happening. So yeah, it was a shame for them.” Australia began with a convincing win over Ireland but failed to maintain the momentum. They lost to Zimbabwe by 23 runs and then to hosts Sri Lanka by eight wickets. Although they ended their campaign with a win over Oman, both Sri Lanka and Zimbabwe finished above them in the group. Australia’s early exit surprised many fans and critics. Since the 2024 T20 World Cup, they have won five of their eight T20I series, losing two and drawing one. In the 202...
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From Leg-Spin to Lethal Pace: How a Local Club Crisis Birthed World’s Best Hardik Pandya

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Hardik Pandya with his coach Jitendra Singh Anil Kumble famously transitioned from a medium pacer to a legendary leg-spinner. Ravichandran Ashwin began his cricketing journey as a fast bowler before evolving into a world-renowned off-spinner. Even Yuzvendra Chahal started as a medium pacer before establishing himself as a world-class leg-spinner. The same goes for Kuldeep Yadav , who wanted to replicate the great Wasim Akram but ended up becoming one of the finest left-arm wrist-spin bowlers. In today’s Internet age, unearthing these fascinating career pivots takes nothing more than a quick click. But Google’s archives do not know everything. They certainly do not hold the complete, meticulous history of every cricketer – especially not the origin story of Hardik Pandya . How many people actually know that the ‘Baroda Bomber’ was once a leg-spinner? Or that his genesis as one of India’s finest fast-bowling all-rounders happened entirely by accident during an unassuming local c...
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