T20 World Cup 2026: Mohammad Amir Rules Out Semi-Final Spot for India, Cites Batting Fragility
Former Pakistan fast bowler Mohammad Amir has issued a stark warning regarding India’s prospects in the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, predicting the defending champions will exit the tournament during the Super 8 stage. Despite India’s unbeaten run in the preliminary group phase, Amir identified the team’s top-order batting as a critical weakness that stronger opposition will exploit.
Amir Favors South Africa and West Indies
Speaking on the analysis show Haarna Mana Hai, Amir dismissed the likelihood of Suryakumar Yadav’s side reaching the final four. When asked to pick the two semi-finalists from Super 8 Group A, Amir selected South Africa and the West Indies over the hosts.
“If you see their matches, the batting collapsed in all the games, barring the Pakistan contest,” Amir stated. “The pressure will rise in the Super 8 matches. The way in which South Africa and the West Indies have been playing, they can beat any team.”
India recently concluded their group stage campaign with a victory over the Netherlands at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. While the bowling unit has secured wins, the batting lineup has struggled to post commanding totals consistently throughout the tenth edition of the tournament.
Abhishek Sharma Under Scrutiny
A specific point of contention in Amir’s analysis is the form of Indian opener Abhishek Sharma. Earlier in the week, Amir labeled Sharma a “slogger,” criticizing his lack of technique against high-quality bowling. Sharma’s performance statistics support the concerns; the opener has recorded three consecutive ducks in the tournament and has yet to score a run.
Amir argues that while India survived the group stage against lower-ranked nations, teams with robust bowling attacks like South Africa will capitalize on these early wickets.
India’s Super 8 Schedule
India faces a challenging path in Group A, playing across three different venues in varying conditions. The itinerary begins with a high-stakes match against the Proteas in Ahmedabad.
Super 8 Group A: India Fixtures
| Date | Opponent | Venue |
|---|---|---|
| Sunday, Feb 22 | South Africa | Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad |
| Thursday, Feb 26 | Zimbabwe | MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai |
| Sunday, Mar 1 | West Indies | Eden Gardens, Kolkata |
Group B Predictions
Shifting focus to Group B, which features Pakistan, New Zealand, England, and Sri Lanka, Amir predicted that Pakistan and New Zealand would secure the remaining two semi-final berths. The Group B action commences on Saturday, February 21, with Pakistan taking on New Zealand at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.
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