T20 World Cup: Pakistan’s cricketer Ahmed Shehzad has openly criticized the Indian cricket team after their shocking and humiliating defeat against South Africa in the T20 World Cup, stating that the core reason behind their poor performance was a visible lack of unity and team balance.
South Africa delivered a dominant performance, ending India’s impressive 12-match unbeaten streak with a commanding 76-run victory in Ahmedabad during the opening Super Eights Group 1 clash. The defeat not only stunned cricket fans but also raised serious questions about India’s strategy, leadership, and team selection.
Speaking on Geo News’ popular sports show Harna Mana Hai, Ahmed Shehzad said that the Indian team currently appears disconnected and unsettled. He pointed out that the strong unity once seen during the leadership era of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli is no longer visible.
“This Indian side does not look united at all. Earlier, their biggest strength was their strong bonding and understanding. That chemistry is missing now, which is why they lost so badly,” Shehzad said.
He further criticized India’s bowling combination, stating that the team lacks a proper bowling attack, forcing them to rely on part-time bowlers like Shivam Dube. According to Shehzad, this weak planning exposed India badly against a strong South African batting lineup.
“They are forced to use Shivam Dube’s overs, which clearly shows poor team selection. I don’t understand the strategy of Gautam Gambhir and Suryakumar Yadav. Their planning simply doesn’t make sense,” he added.
Shehzad acknowledged Jasprit Bumrah’s effort in the death overs but noted that the team struggled heavily during the middle phase of the innings, where South Africa built massive momentum.
“Bumrah managed to control things at the end, but in the middle overs, when runs were flowing freely, India had no effective bowling options. That’s where the match slipped away,” he said.
The Pakistani batter also criticized team selection decisions, claiming that the squad chosen by head coach Gautam Gambhir lacks balance. He warned earlier that this team combination would struggle badly against stronger opponents — a prediction that proved correct against South Africa.
“This team was selected by Gambhir, and somewhere against a quality side, this combination was bound to collapse. Today, they were completely exposed,” Shehzad remarked.
He also commented on captain Suryakumar Yadav’s on-field body language, describing it as nervous and unsettled during the pressure moments of the game.
“A leader’s body language should reflect confidence and fight. But Surya looked helpless. You could see panic in his expressions. A captain should motivate his team, not appear defeated,” Shehzad explained.
Despite defending Suryakumar as an individual player, Shehzad argued that poor planning and weak support system trapped the captain into a difficult situation.
“The problem is not Surya alone. With this team setup, even the best captain would struggle. I had already warned that just wait for one more match,” he said.
Shehzad also warned that India’s upcoming match against Zimbabwe could pose further challenges, especially after such a heavy defeat that may impact the team’s confidence.
India’s shocking loss has triggered widespread debate among cricket experts and fans, raising concerns about team unity, leadership effectiveness, and tactical planning as the tournament progresses.
