T20 World Cup 2026: Ravi Shastri backs the Indian team despite the loss against South Africa

After a crushing 76-run defeat against South Africa, Team India's hopes of reaching the semi-finals have suffered a major blow. No one expected Team India to lose so badly in their first Super 8 match, leaving their place dependent on the results of other teams' matches. 

At this time, there is no guarantee that Team India will reach the semi-finals even if they win their next two matches. Team India was considered a strong contender for the tournament before the match against South Africa, and now, Indian fans are concerned about even the next fixture against Zimbabwe. Actually, the Indian team did not play cricket up to their standard right from the beginning. In the group stage, despite the difficulties, the Indian team remained unbeaten and qualified for the Super 8. But in the very first match of the Super 8, the Indian team had to face a crushing defeat.

Now, everyone is criticising the Indian team for this heavy loss. Even the dressing room atmosphere looks different. Well, former Indian cricketer and coach Ravi Shastri backs the men in blue despite the loss. According to him, the Indian team is still a very strong side, and they just need to rethink their strategy. The loss against South Africa is just a wake-up call. 

“I’m actually glad it’s happened early, especially against a team that’s tipped to make the semi-finals anyway. It might just be the shake-up India needed. It could also force them to rethink their strategy and the composition of the side going forward. I’m sure they’ll bounce back. They would have learned from that experience and won’t take things for granted. In the Super 8, if you lose another game, you’re really putting yourself under serious pressure,” he said.

“It might just be the shakeup India needed. It might also make them rethink their strategy as to the composition of their side going ahead.” he added. 

The Indian team will now face Zimbabwe in their second Super 8 match at M.A Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai, on February 26. This will be a do-or-die match for India. If India loses this match, the Indian team will be eliminated from the tournament. Apart from winning the match, the Indian team will also hope that South Africa defeats the West Indies.

However, India's prospects of making it to the semi-finals will be slim if the West Indies defeat South Africa. After Zimbabwe, India will play against the West Indies on March 1, after the South Africa vs Zimbabwe match. The best thing for India is that Team India will play the last match of the Super 8 stage, so they will know the exact margin of victory before the match.