Suryakumar Yadav Slammed for Arrogance After South Africa Defeat

India’s T20 World Cup campaign hit a rough patch after a comprehensive 76-run loss to South Africa in Ahmedabad on Sunday. The defeat was India’s first in 12 matches and left their net run rate at a concerning -3.800. With must-win games against Zimbabwe and West Indies still ahead, the pressure on captain Suryakumar Yadav is mounting — and not just because of the result on the field.

Hafeez Calls Out Suryakumar’s Press Conference Behavior

During the post-match press conference, Suryakumar drew criticism for his dismissive response to a journalist who questioned why struggling batters Abhishek Sharma and Tilak Varma were retained in the playing eleven. His sarcastic reply did not sit well with former Pakistan all-rounder Mohammad Hafeez, who said the Indian captain “talks above his weight” and needs to “be humble.” Hafeez also cautioned that media interactions must be handled maturely, warning that reporters always have recordings to fall back on.

Ashwin Questions India’s Match Preparation

Legendary off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin joined the chorus of criticism, targeting the team’s tactical readiness. He pointed out that South Africa bowled slower deliveries on 17 of the 22 balls faced by Suryakumar, exposing a clear lack of preparation against that specific strategy. Ashwin’s blunt assessment — “please don’t come for games underprepared” — underlines how exposed India’s game plan was against a disciplined Proteas side.

The selection of Washington Sundar over Axar Patel also raised eyebrows, with Hafeez calling it incomprehensible. India now face back-to-back knockout-or-bust fixtures with both form and leadership under the microscope.