India crashed to a 51-run defeat against South Africa in the second T20I on Thursday. The team struggled in every department at Mullanpur. Several players delivered poor performances, but head coach Gautam Gambhir’s frequent batting-order changes drew the strongest criticism. His decision to push captain Suryakumar Yadav down the order surprised many former players.
Robin Uthappa, who has played with Gambhir for India and Kolkata Knight Riders, questioned the move. He said Gambhir’s pre-series comments about treating most batters as “moving pieces” did not match the situation. Suryakumar walked in after Axar Patel and scored only five runs from four balls. Uthappa argued that India needed their best batter early while chasing a large total.
He said Axar looked unsure of his role. If he was sent as a pinch-hitter, he needed to attack from ball one. Uthappa said India required stability after an early wicket, not more experimentation.
South African legend Dale Steyn agreed. He called the decision a “major mistake” and said India should avoid trial-and-error tactics in important games.
Uthappa urged Gambhir to fix the top three positions. He warned that constant changes could harm India in a major tournament, especially a World Cup, where clear roles matter.
