T20 World Cup 2026: India struggling to maximise batting resources over the course of 20 overs

T20 World Cup 2026 analysis: Why India are not fully utilising their batting firepower and where tactical adjustments are needed?

After Team India’s opening encounter in the T20 World Cup 2026 against United States of America (USA), captain Suryakumar Yadav reflected on the need for better application and smarter batting. Unfortunately, the defending champions failed to learn from their mistakes and repeated similar errors against Namibia in Delhi.

When Surya was asked in the post-match presentation whether India could have pushed towards 230 after racing to 86/1 inside the powerplay, he nearly sidestepped the question. In the end, he described the game as a “fantastic leveler.” However, in hindsight, as Namibia surged to 67/1 in seven overs during their 210-run chase, the skipper appeared slightly anxious.

For two successive matches, India have struggled to fully maximise their batting resources. The clash against USA at the Wankhede Stadium proved to be an acid test in the powerplay, while the game against Namibia at the Arun Jaitley Stadium was defined by reckless shot selection in the death overs.

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250+ hype to batting collapses: India’s batting struggles in opening games
Heading into the World Cup campaign, many looked at India’s schedule and predicted 250-plus totals in the opening couple of games. But things certainly did not unfold that way. The two-time champions have only themselves to blame.

In the powerplay (overs 1–6) of the opening clash against USA, the Blue Brigade lost four wickets for 46 runs, which dented their momentum heading into the middle overs (7–15). Across those nine overs, they managed just 48 runs while losing two more wickets — Rinku Singh and Hardik Pandya.

The only ray of hope for the hosts was their captain, Suryakumar Yadav, who bailed them out of trouble. India scored 64 runs in the death overs (16–20) at a strike rate of 213.33, smashing eight boundaries and four sixes. Of those, SKY contributed 48 runs off just 18 balls. Had he been dismissed earlier, particularly when Shubham Ranjane put down a chance in the 10th over, the story could have been very different. India might well have been bundled out for under 140.

Read More: T20 World Cup 2026, IND vs USA: Surya’s gritty 84* saves India the blushes in their opening game

India’s phase-wise batting performance vs USA in T20 WC 2026

Four evenings later, the focus shifted to Delhi for the clash against Namibia. This time, India got off to a flier, racing to 85 runs inside the powerplay, with Ishan Kishan smashing 50 off just 20 deliveries. However, they failed to apply the brakes at the right moments, and the slide began in the middle overs. India lost three wickets as the strike rate dipped to 137.04.

The pattern continued, as they persisted with an overly aggressive approach and lost five wickets in the final five overs. More strikingly, all five wickets fell in the last 11 balls for just four runs. A total that once seemed destined to comfortably cross the 250-run mark eventually finished a little above 200.

India’s phase-wise batting performance vs Namibia in T20 WC 2026

Currently, after the first two clashes, Suryakumar remains their leading run-getter. On the other hand, Kishan has batted with a strike rate of more than 200.

Most runs for India in T20 WC 2026 after USA and Namibia clashes

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Smart strike-rotation over blind aggression should be India’s mantra
It is a myth that singles and doubles are no longer vital in modern-day T20 cricket. In reality, they help balance an innings. Once the boundaries dry up, teams can rotate the strike and still collect double-digit runs per over through smart running between the wickets.

It is high time for the management to identify who can contribute more in that department. Against Namibia, India managed only 40 runs between the eighth and 14th overs. Across those seven overs, four produced fewer than six runs, which steadily mounted the pressure. That is where one of the middle-order batters needs to focus on ticking the scoreboard with singles and doubles.

If that requires promoting Axar Patel or Rinku Singh up the order, so be it. Axar has bailed the side out in similar situations before, most memorably in the T20 World Cup 2024 final against South Africa. Rinku, too, is capable of playing that role. Once set, the southpaw can accelerate freely at the back end of the innings. That would also ease the burden of having Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube rebuild under pressure.

India’s players do not need to look far for inspiration. Their captain set the template at the Wankhede Stadium against USA, handling pressure with composure. Despite possessing the power to go big, Suryakumar Yadav trusted his instincts, rotated the strike, and kept India alive in the contest almost single-handedly.

Heading into the potential Super 8 stage, India will face stronger oppositions and cannot afford to leave 15–20 runs behind. Once the dew settles in, chasing sides often gain an advantage. The bowlers will need that cushion in their favour. For that to happen, the batters must show patience and apply a smarter approach.

India’s next assignment is against arch-rivals Pakistan on February 15 at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.

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