Former Pakistan pacer Shoaib Akhtar has openly criticized Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, and the rest of India’s bowling attack following their disappointing performance against South Africa in the T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8s match. The Men in Blue suffered a crushing 76-run defeat, their largest loss by runs in T20 World Cup history and the second biggest defeat in T20Is overall. India failed to chase the daunting 188-run target set by the Proteas at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday.
Indian Bowling Under Fire
Speaking on Tapmad, Shoaib Akhtar said the Indian bowlers were completely exposed. He noted that Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube lacked pace and intimidation, while Varun Chakaravarthy, known for his speed, bowled below his usual standards.
Shoaib Akhtar Slams Indian Bowlers, Says Death Overs Attack Was Exposed
“Indian bowling has been exposed. Varun, whose strength is bowling at 97-98 kmph, was clocking 94. When he came in, he was hit for a no-look six by Dewald Brevis. Hardik and Shivam were bowling around 120 kmph. It’s not as if they are someone like Malcolm Marshall, who can intimidate. Deploying them in the death overs led to inevitable counterattacks. Pandya gave away 45 runs today,” Shoaib Akhtar said.
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While Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh bowled well in the opening overs, India’s bowling collapsed in the middle overs, allowing David Miller and Dewald Brevis to dominate. Pandya, Dube, and Varun Chakaravarthy collectively conceded 187 runs in 20 overs, drawing heavy criticism from fans and experts.
India’s Semi-Final Hopes
Despite the setback, India still has a path to the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 semi-finals, but it is complicated. They must win both remaining matches against Zimbabwe and West Indies, and also rely on South Africa winning their matches to secure the second spot behind the Proteas. India’s Net Run Rate (NRR), severely impacted by this record defeat, makes qualification increasingly challenging.