Although the unblemished record of Team India in the ICC Men's T20 World Cup looks dominant on paper, there are some concerns lurking in the background that could prove costly to the team in the Super 8 rounds. Though India has qualified for the next round easily under the guidance of Suryakumar Yadav, their vulnerability to off-spin has come to the fore as a major concern.
As tougher opponents are waiting in the wings, this problem has become a priority to be addressed.
India’s Spin Troubles in Numbers
In the group stage, Indian batsmen were exposed to 42 overs of off-spin, scoring 315 runs at a run rate slightly above seven while losing 15 wickets. In today’s T20 cricket, where the need to accelerate in the middle overs is paramount, scoring close to a run a ball against spin is not an ideal situation.
Even associate nations such as the USA and the Netherlands were able to restrict the rate at which India scored due to quality spin bowling. The lack of strike rotation and pressure relief in overs 7-15 has allowed opposing teams to fight back in the match.
The number of dropped catches, nine in total, has again brought to the fore the lack of agility, but the larger concern is the strategy of batting against spin.
Middle-Order Slowdowns: A Growing Concern
The middle order of the Indian team has been prone to momentum shifts. Against Pakistan, despite Ishan Kishan’s scintillating knock, the scoring rate was well below par in overs 7 to 14. This trend was seen against the Netherlands and Namibia as well, where the initial promise was lost due to defensive shots against spinners.
The presence of fixed batting positions – Tilak Varma at No. 3 and Suryakumar Yadav at No. 4 – has been a stabilizing factor but has restricted flexibility. The previous trials under coach Gautam Gambhir had allowed flexible positions depending on the opposition, but the World Cup format seems to be more rigid.
The opposition in the Super 8s is bound to capitalise on this trend.
Tougher Spin Attacks Await
The upcoming Super 8 match for the India national cricket team against the South Africa national cricket team may prove to be even more challenging for them. The South Africa team have various spinners who can strangle the middle overs.
Likewise, the West Indies and Zimbabwe teams also have quality spinners in the next round of the tournament. In knockout competitions, the vulnerabilities are exposed, and the teams never miss a chance to attack the vulnerable spots.
What India Must Change
To effectively counter off-spin, India must:
- Enhance strike rotation in the middle overs
- Increase sweep and reverse-sweep shots
- Take calculated risks in the initial overs against new spinners
- Avoid prolonged defensive moments
The intent to score, and not mere aggression, will be important. The ability to score 9-10 runs in an over in the middle order is the difference between title contenders and champions in T20 events.
The nets at the Narendra Modi Stadium before the crucial match against South Africa will see extensive work on spin match-ups. A more aggressive strategy, especially from the senior openers, might just rewrite the script for India.
The Road Ahead
Despite the weaknesses, India is still one of the better teams in the competition. Their firepower in the top order and the strength of the bowling attack give them balance. But the room for error is much smaller in the Super 8 round of matches.
If Suryakumar Yadav and his team can turn their spin weakness into a strength, they might just have a stronger claim to being serious title contenders. But if the middle-order slump persists, their rivals will not be shy about exploiting the weakness.
The coming matches will show whether India can develop and grow in high-pressure situations or if off-spin will continue to be their nemesis in the T20 World Cup 2026.