Former South African captain Faf du Plessis has predicted that Zimbabwe captain Sikandar Raza will open the bowling against India in the T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8 match. Du Plessis opined that off-spinners have tasted success against India’s openers in almost every game and Zimbabwe too would look to put the Men in Blue under pressure using the same tactic.
India will take on Zimbabwe at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai on Thursday, February 26 in their second Super 8 match of the T20 World Cup 2026. The co-hosts and defending champions face a do-or-die situation, having lost their previous Super 8 match to South Africa by a huge margin of 76 runs.
Lack of good opening stands have hurt Team India in a big way in the ICC event. Sides have opened the bowling with off-spinners and have been rewarded instantly. In the previous match as well, Aiden Markram sent back Ishan Kishan for a duck in the first over. During a discussion on ESPNcricinfo, Du Plessis claimed that Zimbabwe too would open the bowling with an off-spinner in Raza. He said:
“I think it’s a no-brainer. There’s so much talk about the off-spin thing that hangs over India. You’re playing with the mindset of the batter. Even looking at the previous game, Abhishek didn’t take first ball. Kishan faced the first ball and he ended up getting out. So, it’ll be interesting to see if Raza takes the first ball, which partner’s turn is it to take the off-spin.”
The former Proteas skipper stated that Abhishek Sharma and Ishan do not have a weakness against off-spin as such, but somehow seem to be getting out cheaply. The 41-year-old commented:
“They don’t have a problem with off-spin. It’s just the fact that they’re getting out to it and how it’s become a thing. The problem is they lose a wicket in the first over and that sets you back every single time you start.”
Before Kishan’s dismissal against Markram in Ahmedabad, Abhishek was dismissed by Pakistan’s Salman Agha and Netherland’s Aryan Dutt. On both occasions, Abhishek was out without scoring in the first over.
“Abhishek and Ishan Kishan would really like it” – Varun Aaron on Indian openers ahead of Zimbabwe clash
During the same discussion, former India pacer Varun Aaron also agreed that Zimbabwe would open with Raza on Thursday in Chennai. He, however, asserted that if Abhishek and Ishan survive the off-spin challenge, they would enjoy batting against the pace of Blessing Muzarabani. Aaron elaborated:
“I think the way Blessing operates, Abhishek and Ishan Kishan would really like it because both the batsmen love bounce, so it plays into the Indian hands. If you were a slow seam bowler, yes Abhishek and Ishan would have not liked the slowness of it or the movement, but Blessing gives them bounce and they love to play their cuts and their pulls.”
Muzarabani is joint-second on the list of leading wicket-takers in the T20 World Cup 2026. In four matches, the Zimbabwe pacer has claimed 11 wickets at an average of 10.27 and an economy rate of 7.06.
Edited by Renin Wilben Albert
