The Aryavarth Express
New Delhi: Former India cricketer Mohammad Kaif has criticised the team’s bowling strategy in their Super 8 loss to South Africa national cricket team in the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, saying the match slipped away between the seventh and 15th overs.
Speaking on his YouTube channel, Kaif pointed out that India failed to deploy pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah effectively during the crucial middle overs, allowing David Miller and Dewald Brevis to build a decisive partnership.
According to Kaif, former captain Rohit Sharma managed Bumrah’s spells more strategically, often reintroducing him in the middle overs after a brief powerplay spell to break key partnerships.
“We lost the match between the seventh and 15th over. You used two overs of Bumrah early and saved the remaining two for the death. Rohit Sharma never used Bumrah like this,” Kaif said, adding that there is no bigger match-winner in the current Indian side than the star pacer. He suggested Bumrah should bowl one over in the powerplay and return around the 11th or 12th over to make an impact.
Bumrah had struck early, dismissing Quinton de Kock and Ryan Rickelton during the powerplay. However, apart from Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh, the rest of the Indian bowling attack struggled as South Africa’s batters dominated the middle phase.
When Bumrah was brought back in the 17th over, the Proteas were already in a commanding position at 152/5, with Tristan Stubbs at the crease.
South Africa ended India’s 12-match unbeaten streak in the tournament with a comprehensive 76-run win in Ahmedabad on Sunday. The margin marked India’s second-heaviest defeat in T20 Internationals after an 80-run loss to New Zealand national cricket team in Wellington in 2019, and their biggest-ever defeat in T20 World Cup history.
The setback has complicated India’s path to the semi-finals. To keep their title defence alive, the Men in Blue must win their remaining two Super 8 matches convincingly and improve their net run rate.
