IND vs SA T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8s: India will lock horns with South Africa during a high-octane match in Ahemdabad on Sunday. Both teams are coming into the Super 8s stage unbeaten, but Shukri Conrad, who is the head coach of the South African cricket team, is of the view that the defending champions India, might be under more pressure.
Before the upcoming clash, Shukri Conrad, who is coaching a team for the first time in an ICC tournament, has revealed that they will try to take advantage of the pressure situation and won't get distracted by it much. During the press conference on Friday, Conrad emphasised that although both teams might be under immense pressure, since the Suryakumar Yadav-led side is the defending champions, they might be feeling it more.
“There's so much scrutiny, especially in a side like India. They're going to be under a lot of pressure to make the semi-finals and obviously go on and make the finals as well. Hopefully, we can expose them and make them vulnerable under that pressure," Conrad told reporters.
ABHISHEK SHARMA NOT WRITTEN OFF
While talking about India's criticism, he highlighted that the team won't take Abhishek Sharma lightly, even though he had registered three ducks during the group stage matches. He also said that a player's lean patch doesn't really make them vulnerable.
“Pressure is a big thing, but it's pressure both for them and us,” he added.
“I think we all talk about the pressure of playing against the top side, but we're not quite aware of what pressures they are under. I'm not, for one, suggesting that a guy who has three ducks in his last three matches comes under pressure for his place on his side. No", he said.
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The Indian team management has come out in support of Abhishek Sharma, and he continues to be a part of their plan. Conrad's statements showed his respect for this Indian team.
DIFFERENT STAGE, DIFFERENT TEST
The host does have an upper edge this time. In the three-match T20I series against the same opponent last year, the Suryakumar Yadav-led side won by 3-1, where one match was abandoned. But Conrad opined that their performance in a bilateral series doesn't define their World Cup campaign.
The Proteas will test India's weaknesses in this match. They do have spinners like Keshav Maharaj, George Linde, and Aiden Markram, and they might test the Indian batters with their finger spin. Their batting attack consists of Quinton de Kock, Ryan Rickelton, Markram and Tristan Stubbs, who too are in sublime form.
The host might have stayed unbeaten so far, but the pitch in Ahmedabad might give them a stiff test. As far as Conrad is concerned, pressure can change big matches and the Proteas will intend to prove their worth.