'We were humiliated on all fronts': Ex-India captain fumes after Super 8 disaster
Times of India
by TOI SPORTS DESKFebruary 23, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
Former India cricket captain Kris Srikkanth delivered a blistering critique of his team’s batting performance during their 76-run defeat to South Africa in the T20 World Cup 2026 Super Eight clash in Ahmedabad. Chasing a target of 188, India collapsed spectacularly, being bowled out for just 111 in the 19th over. Srikkanth’s YouTube channel became his platform to vent his frustrations, particularly targeting the team’s batting order and key players’ performances.
The former opener was especially critical of Ishan Kishan, who fell for a four-ball duck in the first over, calling out his reckless decision to slog off the next delivery after narrowly escaping a catch. Srikkanth also questioned Rinku Singh’s inability to score consistently and criticized Suryakumar Yadav for not taking greater responsibility by batting at No.3. He argued that the team’s batting order was mishandled, which led to Hardik Pandya being pushed down to No.7—a decision he deemed “absolutely ridiculous.”
Srikkanth expressed frustration over the management’s decision to send Washington Sundar ahead of established finishers when India were struggling at 26/3 in the fifth over. He highlighted how such poor decision-making compounded their problems, leaving Hardik Pandya in an unfavorable position. The former captain warned that this heavy defeat could have long-term consequences for the team’s batting mindset, emphasizing that inconsistent performances throughout the tournament had already put them on shaky ground.
The match saw none of India’s batters crossing 20 runs, with Shivam Dube being the only notable contributor with 42 runs. Srikkanth stressed that while individual efforts could bail out the team in bilateral series, ICC events demanded a more disciplined approach. He concluded that this defeat could further dent the confidence of Indian batters and leave their Super Eight campaign in jeopardy.
In summary, Srikkanth’s critique underscores the broader issues plaguing India’s batting unit in high-stakes tournaments like the T20 World Cup. His comments not only highlight the tactical missteps but also raise questions about the team’s mental resilience and ability to perform under pressure. This match, widely seen as a disaster for India, serves as
Verticals
worldasia
Originally published on Times of India on 2/23/2026