next IndiaHeavy defeat by 76 runs South AfricaThe team’s strategy for their victory t20 world cup 2026 against super 8 game zimbabwe The incident that took place in Chennai on February 26, 2026 has become a major talking point.
Two-time World Cup winning captain ricky ponting and former coach of India Ravi Shastri Has offered sharp tactical advice to help the defending champions survive their campaign, particularly addressing the controversial exclusion of the vice-captain Akshar Patel. The defeat snapped a 12-match winning streak, creating an urgent need for the Indian think-tank to solve its selection conundrum before the Super Eight stage finale against India. west indies This Sunday in Kolkata.
Ricky Ponting appeals for simplicity and best XI for India’s Super 8 match against Zimbabwe
Ponting has urged the Indian management to stop overcomplicating selection based on opponent matchups and instead return to the fundamentals of team building. He believes in the decision to bench the vice-captain Akshar Patel Avoiding having South Africa’s left-handed batsmen bowl to left-arm spinners was a tactical mistake that ignored the core value of fielding the strongest possible team. Ponting emphasized that the primary skill of a captain lies in the ‘art’ of effectively managing world-class bowlers within the game, rather than completely removing them from the eleven based on the skill of the opposition batsmen.
“Listening to the commentary, the reason why Axar is not playing is because of the left-handed players in the opposition team. But there are still some right-handed players there. It depends on the art of the captain to be able to use Axar at the right time. I am going back to the basics. I am just looking at their lineup. Who is our best XI for the Chennai conditions?” ICC quoted Ponting as saying.
The case is of Kuldeep Yadav’s wrist-spin variation
Beyond the debate on letters, Ponting is insisting on a comeback -Kuldeep Yadav In the starting lineup for the Chepauk clash. He argues that Kuldeep’s unique ability to swing the ball both ways makes him a ‘matchup-proof’ asset who can trouble any batsman, whether they are left- or right-handed. This variation is particularly lethal on subcontinental tracks where the wrist spinner’s extra bounce and deceptive ‘mistakes’ can create wicket-taking opportunities that conventional finger spinners may miss, especially when defending a total.
“If it’s Kuldeep Yadav, he’s the second one I’m thinking of bringing back because it doesn’t matter whether he’s left-handed or right-handed. He can bowl wrong and swing the ball away from the left-hand outside edge of both those batsmen.” Ponting concluded.