Irfan Pathan has given simple advice to the Suryakumar Yadav-led India National Cricket Team before the must-win Super 8 clash against Zimbabwe in the ongoing T20 World Cup 2026. The former T20 World Cup winner wants India to forget net run rate and focus only on winning.
After a 76-run thrashing by South Africa, the defending champions must win the next two Super 8 matches against Zimbabwe and the West Indies by a big margin to have any chance to qualify for the semifinals of the ongoing T20 World Cup 2026.
Forget NRR, just win: Irfan Pathan to Suryakumar Yadav
Now, the Net Run Rate can decide everything. Pathan feels thinking about big winning margins will only create pressure on the Men in Blue. The cricket pandit noted that winning by 100 runs is not easy in T20Is, and if players start thinking too much about net run rate, they can lose focus.
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Irfan Pathan said on JioStar’s Follow the Blues: “I really hope that approach of playing for net run rate does not come into play at the start of the game. The priority should be winning the game first. So, perform well and try to win. Only then should you think about the run rate.
If you start thinking about chasing the net run rate of, say, the West Indies, that is almost impossible. That would mean beating teams like Zimbabwe and the West Indies by a margin of 100 runs, which is not easy in T20 cricket. So, I sincerely hope that when the Indian team plays these next two matches, the main focus is simply on winning first.”
Left-hand combination troubling India
India’s batting is also another issue. The top order has three left-handers—Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, and Tilak Varma. But Abhishek is badly out of form. He has scored only 15 runs in four matches. Ishan is not consistent, while Tilak has scored runs, but his strike rate is poor.
Because of early wickets, Suryakumar Yadav has played carefully. The Indian captain is known for attacking shots, but right now he looks more cautious. Pathan has suggested Suryakumar bat at number three to break the left-hand combination at the top.
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Should Suryakumar Yadav bat at No. 3? Pathan suggests bold move
Pathan further explained, “I think Surya can bat at number three. From the team’s perspective, I understand the conservative approach, especially because Abhishek has been getting out early. In the last game, Ishan Kishan got out in the first over.”
He signed off by saying, “You do not want to expose Suryakumar Yadav at number three when he is so effective in the middle overs, striking at 160. If something goes wrong with the new ball, just one good delivery can get him out. So, I understand the thinking. However, they still need to consider batting Suryakumar Yadav at number three to break the monotony of having three left-handers at the top.”
Notably, India was unbeaten in the group stage, but a big defeat against South Africa and then West Indies’ comprehensive win over Zimbabwe made things worse for the Men in Blue in the Super 8s.
