“We Lost the Match in the Powerplay,” Suryakumar Yadav Admits Batting Blunder After Defeat

Ahmedabad: After India’s crushing 76-run defeat to South Africa in the Super-8 of the T20 World Cup 2026, captain Suryakumar Yadav broke his silence, acknowledging that early batting failures were the main reason behind the loss.

Speaking at the post-match presentation, Yadav admitted that the team’s collapse in the powerplay overs set the tone for the defeat. “When you are chasing 180–185 runs, you cannot win the match in the powerplay, but you can certainly lose it. We lost too many wickets in the first six overs. After that, we couldn’t form the small partnerships we needed. This is part of the game. We will learn from it and come back stronger,” he said.

Praise for Bowlers: Bumrah-Arshdeep Duo

Despite the loss, Yadav showered praise on India’s bowlers, especially Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh. “We bowled really well in the beginning, restricting them to 21/3. South Africa batted brilliantly between overs 7–15, but we made a comeback towards the end. The Bumrah-Arshdeep duo is extremely lethal. Together, they took five wickets while conceding very few runs. Having their experience in the team is a big advantage for us,” Yadav said.

Strategy for the Next Match Against Zimbabwe

Looking ahead, Yadav emphasized continuity rather than major changes. “Our plan for the next match is simple: good batting, good bowling, and good fielding. We will play the brand of cricket we are known for. We will keep things simple and aim for a strong comeback,” he added.