high-stakes environment of t20 world cup super 8The atmosphere became cold for the team India In Ahmedabad, a clinical South African side exposed significant cracks in the Men in Blue’s armour. While the scoreboard told the story of a heavy defeat, the post-match discussion has turned to the dugout. Former cricketer turned commentator Sanjay Manjrekar Has made sharp, sarcastic criticism regarding the head coach Gautam Gambhirare questioning the tactical manoeuvres, especially the “fix it all” approach to the all-rounder washington beautiful.
With India’s semi-final hopes now in jeopardy, the defeat has sparked heated debate over team selection and India’s middle-order’s ability to handle sophisticated pace variations.
Sanjay Manjrekar criticizes Gautam Gambhir’s strategy of choosing Washington Sundar
After the defeat, Manjrekar did not shy away from analyzing the tactical failures on CNN-News18’s stump mic. His primary target was Gambhir’s heavy reliance on Sundar as a tactical “Swiss Army knife”, a move that Manjrekar felt was being overused to the detriment of the team’s balance.
“Kailash Jeevan, at that time there was a medicine with the same name. If you have a headache you will use it. If you have any stomach related problem then you will consume it. It was an all-in-one solution. Looks like Gautam Gambhir also has an all-in-one solution for everything – Washington SundarManjrekar commented with a touch of sarcasm.
Criticism focused on the decision to promote Sundar to No. 5, a move that pushed proven finishers Rinku Singh And hardik pandya Move further down the order. Manjrekar argued that the reshuffle created unnecessary pressure, saying, “If there is any problem with batting, Vashi. If there is a problem with bowling, Vashi… it was too much” This tactical rigidity, according to Manjrekar, suggests a lack of confidence in particular roles when the stakes are highest.
South Africa beats India in T20 World Cup Super 8 match
While the selection drama unfolded off the field, the action on the pitch revealed the technical weaknesses in the Indian lineup. Disciplined leadership of South Africa’s bowling unit lungi ngidiThe Indian batting order was dismantled not through raw pace, but through skillfully disguised slower balls. Ahmedabad’s surface, which provided grip for change, became a graveyard for India’s offensive intentions.
Manjrekar highlighted that struggles against the pace variety are becoming a recurring theme, especially for the captain. “Forget fast bowling, focus on playing slow balls.. captain [Suryakumar Yadav] Struggles the most against slower balls,” he said. This assessment rings true after Ngidi and the South African attack were forced to repeatedly play the wrong shots from India’s top and middle order.
The path ahead is now steep. India will have to face zimbabwe It is important to win this match to keep our semi-final dreams alive. Beyond just a win, they need a big margin to improve the Net Run Rate (NRR), which suffered severely after Ahmedabad’s collapse. As Gambhir faces his first major tactical crisis in the Super 8s, the pressure is on to see whether he will stick to his all-in-one treatments or turn to a more traditional structure.