T20 World Cup 2026: 'The Management loses confidence in that bowler' - Irfan Pathan's massive claim on star player ahead of IND vs ZIM clash

Irfan Pathan believes that the Indian team management's confidence in Hardik Pandya's ability to bowl at the death could have reduced after he was hammered by Tristan Stubbs in the Super 8 clash against South Africa at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

Pandya conceded 20 runs, allowing South Africa to head into the second innings, oozing with confidence after putting on a competitive score of 187/7. In reply, the Men in Blue were bowled out for 111.

Pathan suggested that India should persist with left-arm speedster Arshdeep Singh and not replace him in favour of an extra spinner.

"Hardik tried the yorker just once and went for the hard length for the rest. He got hit for sixes, and it was a very big over that took the momentum in South Africa's favor. When something like this happens, the management loses confidence in that bowler. Arshdeep becomes very crucial in that," Pathan said in a video on his YouTube channel.

"Playing Arshdeep is very important. If Hardik was bowling well in the death overs, you'd think that he would bowl with the new ball and at the back end as well. India can go with an extra spinner in that case, as we saw in the Asia Cup. But the pitches are different here. So, you should go with Arshdeep. India would surely think of bringing in Kuldeep, but for that, they would have to leave out Arshdeep and you don't have a bowler who can bowl yorkers with Bumrah in the death overs," he added.

Pathan also urged the team management to bring Axar Patel back into the line-up for the clash against Zimbabwe on Thursday, February 26. The former India all-rounder said that Axar wasn't picked in the last game, and Washington Sundar played instead as South Africa had three left-handed batters in the side. However, two of the left-handers were dismissed early, and skipper Suryakumar Yadav could give only two overs to Sundar.

"Axar Patel's return is of utmost importance. Washington Sundar played in the last match because South Africa had left-handed batters like Quinton de Kock, Ryan Rickelton, and David Miller. Two out of those batters got out early, so they couldn't use him a lot. But Axar is such a bowler who doesn't give room at all to left-handed batters. If the batter is playing the sweep well, he shifts to bowling wide. He bowls very well against left-handed batters as well. His batting is massively underrated. He plays crucial innings when needed," he concluded.