Mohammad Amir says India won't qualify for T20 World Cup semifinals, explains why ~ PARN HARIT

Former Pakistan pacer Mohammad Amir, who recently called India opening batter Abhishek Sharma a 'slogger', has left fans stunned with another statement. As the Super 8 groups are finalised, Amir was given the task of picking the two teams from each group he thinks would qualify for the last 4 of the T20 World Cup. To the surprise of many, including the show's host, Amir said that India would not make it to the semi-finals, backing South Africa and the West Indies to go through.

Amir's comments have been hugely debated on social media over the last week or so. After stirring a debate by calling Abhishek Sharma a slogger, Amir has now invited criticism for his daring prediction about India's elimination from the T20 World Cup.

Explaining his decision to back South Africa and West Indies to go through from India's group, Amir said: "Except for the Pakistan match, the Indian batting line-up collapsed in every game. The way South Africa and the West Indies are playing, they can beat any team."

India also have Zimbabwe in the same group. But only the top two teams would qualify for the semi-finals.

What Mohammad Amir Said On Abhishek Sharma

"By whatever little I have seen, if you ask me honestly, I feel he is just a slogger. He has to go hard at every ball. The day he gets going, it's fine; otherwise, uske failure ke chances zyaada hain (The chances of his failure are high). He scores once in 8 innings. Otherwise, his scores are 10, 15, 0, and 20. I don't think he is technically sound," Amir said on the show 'Haarna Mana Hai'.

After Abhishek incurred three consecutive ducks, Amir said that international cricket would expose him.

"Saim had the same issue when he came to play the PSL a few years back. He was new and was hitting no-look shots. Nobody knew his weakness because most of his shots were on the leg side. Now, if you bowl at the third or fourth stump line, he struggles to decide. Even in his last two matches, he was dismissed playing on the offside. Unless he improves his offside game, he cannot progress. Strong bowlers will always test your weakness and push you out of your comfort zone," Amir said.

Mohammad Amir has indeed made some headlines today with a bold prediction regarding India’s chances in the 2026 T20 World Cup.

Appearing on the Pakistani show "Haarna Mana Hai" on February 20, 2026, the former pacer stated that he does not see India qualifying for the semi-finals from their Super 8 group. Instead, he predicted that South Africa and the West Indies will advance.

Why Amir thinks India will fail:

Batting Fragility: Amir argued that despite India being unbeaten in the group stage, their batting has been prone to collapses. He noted that "except for the Pakistan fixture," India's batting line-up has faltered in nearly every match, citing instances where they struggled to post or chase totals convincingly.
Abhishek Sharma’s Form: He specifically singled out opener Abhishek Sharma, labeling him a "slogger" rather than a technically sound batter. Sharma has had a rough tournament so far, recording three consecutive ducks.
Rising Pressure in Super 8s: Amir believes the intensity of the Super 8 stage will expose these middle-order inconsistencies. He feels that South Africa and the West Indies are playing more "complete" and balanced cricket right now, which makes them more likely to handle the pressure.
Balanced Opposition: He praised the West Indies for their explosive power-hitters and South Africa for having a "complete" attack (fast bowlers, spinners, and in-form batters), suggesting they can beat any team in the current conditions.

India’s Super 8 Road Ahead

India will have a chance to prove Amir wrong very soon. Their Super 8 schedule is:

Feb 22: vs South Africa (Ahmedabad)
Feb 26: vs Zimbabwe (Chennai)
March 1: vs West Indies (Kolkata)

Do you think Amir has a point about the batting collapses, or is India's bowling strength enough to carry them through? I can pull up the recent match stats if you want to see if the "collapse" claim holds water!

"Same for Abhishek. He wants every ball in the slot so he can hit. But at the bigger stages, or in ODIs, har ball lapete mein nahi le sakte (you cannot slog every ball in pressure cricket). Salman Agha and Aryan Dutt got him out in a similar fashion. International cricket will expose you," he explained.

PARN HARIT