India's cricket team held a practice session in Ahmedabad, hinting at possible lineup adjustments for their upcoming T20 World Cup Super Eight match against South Africa. Bowling coach Morne Morkel dismissed concerns over opener Abhishek Sharma's poor form, emphasizing team support. Jasprit Bumrah's recent yorker performance raises concerns for South African batsmen.
India's national cricket team conducted a night practice session at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Friday, February 20, 2026, ahead of their Super Eight clash with South Africa on Sunday, February 22, 2026. The session suggested potential changes in the lineup, including speculation about Sanju Samson replacing Abhishek Sharma as opener and Rinku Singh contributing with bowling.
Abhishek Sharma has struggled in the tournament, failing to score and getting dismissed for ducks in three innings. During training, he spent time with head coach Gautam Gambhir. Bowling coach Morne Morkel stated there has been no discussion about Sharma's form within the team. 'Absolutely, no discussion. He is a world-class player. So far in the tournament, luckily, there have been some guys standing up for Abhishek,' Morkel said. He added that the team expects Sharma to perform in this crucial phase, noting his entertaining style.
Morkel praised the curators for preparing 200-plus run pitches late in the season, acknowledging the challenges. 'Credit to the curators for producing pitches that are 200-plus surfaces so late in the season. It is a nightmare. There is a lot of pressure on those guys,' he remarked.
Meanwhile, Jasprit Bumrah's precise yorker dismissing Pakistan's Saim Ayub in an earlier match has implications for South Africa. The delivery, described as a 'bolt from the blue,' highlighted Bumrah's skill in disguising variations, potentially troubling South African batsmen with high backlifts. Experts like Wasim Akram emphasized the difficulty in executing such yorkers, requiring full body effort.
India enters the Super Eight with a perfect record of four wins from four group matches.
