India’s T20 World Cup 2026 campaign is under intense scrutiny — not just for results, but for what is allegedly happening inside the dressing room.
Speaking on Haarna Maana Hai, Pakistan batter Ahmed Shehzad launched a series of allegations against India head coach Gautam Gambhir, accusing him of importing politics into the national setup at a time when the team’s semi-final chances hang in the balance.
Kuldeep Yadav’s omission sparks fresh controversy
India’s heavy 76-run defeat to South Africa in their first Super 8 clash left their net run rate at -3.800, complicating qualification scenarios. They now must win their remaining matches against Zimbabwe and West Indies — and by significant margins — to keep realistic hopes of advancing.
Against that backdrop, Shehzad questioned selection calls, particularly the omission of Kuldeep Yadav.
“There was an incident after the Pakistan game where Suryakumar Yadav pushed him. People are now saying that perhaps Kuldeep Yadav was dropped because of a disciplinary issue or a problem with Suryakumar Yadav. Otherwise, he would not have been left out. Kuldeep Yadav brings variation and is a match-winner,” he said on Haarna Maana Hai.
Shehzad further linked selection instability to what he described as a broader shift in dressing-room culture under Gambhir’s leadership.
“When you enter any field, complete focus is needed. Gambhir entered politics, and obviously his mindset changed. He was not very successful in politics, but it seems he has brought that same politics into the team environment. All this politics from Gautam Gambhir has damaged the image of the Indian team.”
Allegations of bias against senior players
The Pakistan batter did not stop at selection debates. He suggested that Gambhir’s approach toward senior players had fundamentally altered the team dynamic.
“He ousted the senior players of the team and did not give them the expected respect, which pushed many to call it quits to their careers for India. (He hinted towards Virat Kohli and Ravichandran Ashwin),” he added.
Shehzad went further, alleging targeted decisions against Virat Kohli.
“Gautam Gambhir used to openly voice against Virat Kohli, and he got the opportunity to plot against him as he became the Indian head coach with the liberty from the BCCI to make unchallenged decisions.”
Referring to a now-deleted social media post, he continued:
“The viral tweet from Virat Kohli’s brother had also mentioned all the wrongdoings against his brother. However, it was eventually deleted. Hence, the Indian team is still good, but Gambhir’s politics have ruined their image with his awkward combinations and strange player pickings (he mentioned dropping Axar Patel and Kuldeep Yadav),” he pointed out.
Semi-final equation tightens for India
India’s qualification path has narrowed considerably following the defeat to South Africa and West Indies’ strong showing in the Super 8 stage.
Shehzad assessed the broader tournament scenario bluntly.
“After the band of cricket West Indies played yesterday, India’s chances for a semi-final spot are very slim. Now, it is only one of those miracles or the things India does that can get them through to the next stage,” he said.
For India to qualify without relying heavily on net run rate calculations, they need victories in their remaining two fixtures and favorable results elsewhere. Otherwise, they must secure dominant wins to overturn their negative NRR.
Yusuf Pathan backs India’s bounce-back ability
While criticism mounted from across the border, former India cricketer Yusuf Pathan struck a markedly different tone ahead of India’s clash against Zimbabwe in Chennai on February 26.
“Indian team knows how to bounce back. The team will bounce back well. We hope that India will win in Chennai by a good margin. Zimbabwe too is playing good cricket. I extend them best wishes, but Indian team always performs well when it gets challenging,” Pathan said while speaking to reporters.
With qualification now hanging on both performance and permutations, India’s remaining Super 8 fixtures will determine whether the focus shifts back to cricketing resilience — or whether the debate over dressing-room politics intensifies further.
