Is the weight of title defence weighing India down? JP Duminy says ‘best is yet to come’ in T20 World Cup verdict | Exclusive

Former South Africa all-rounder has given his take on India’s chance to go where no team has gone: defending a T20 World Cup crown and becoming three-time world champions. India defeated South Africa in Barbados in a nerve-jangling contest to clinch their second title in 2024. With the 2026 iteration being held in the comforts of home, Suryakumar Yadav and Co. are eyeing to break history.

To that end, India have looked less than ideal in the group-stage games, missing to give an impression of a well-oiled machine that they seemed like in the lead-up to the tournament, with a dominant series win against New Zealand and a convincing victory in the lone warm-up clash over South Africa, incidentally their first Super 8 rivals on Sunday (February 22) in Ahmedabad.

India collapsed against USA in the powerplay in their tournament opener before being saved by Suryakumar Yadav’s game-changing knock in Mumbai. They then suffered two collapses at different stages against Namibia in Delhi, but that could not stop the team from recording its biggest win by margin of runs in T20 World Cup history. The hosts endured another batting meltdown against Pakistan in spin-friendly Colombo before the lower-order and bowlers saved their blushes, while Netherlands ran them dangerously close in a hard-fought win in Ahmedabad.

Long story short, India will enter the Super 8s with a perfect 4-0 record, but none of their wins so far had the aura of invincibility that they created so effectively after the 2024 World Cup until now.

“The teams that still find a way to put in performances and win are the most dangerous teams. So obviously, you have to play well in the group stage, but the critical phases really are the Super Eights and then the semifinals, obviously finals. And if you can find great momentum and confidence and put a really good game together collectively as a team, that's when you gain real confidence,” Duminy said on the latest episode of Mr Cricket UAE podcast.

While the search for their perfect game continues, Duminy acknowledged that different players have put their hand up for India in each of the four games thus far, a trait of teams that win championships more often than not.

“So, I think from an Indian standpoint, what's really impressive is that somebody at some point is standing up in the top six, seven. It's not just a reliance on the top order or the middle order. Somebody at some point is putting in the performances. They're going to be a force to reckon with in this World Cup. So, I think the best is probably yet to come for India,” he concluded.