The crushing 76-run defeat suffered by India in Super 8 of T20 World Cup 2026 at the hands of South Africa has transcended the boundaries of the pitch, sparking a fiery cross-border war of words. Former Pakistan batting maestro Mohammad Yousuf took to social media on February 22, 2026, to mock the Indian team’s performance at the Narendra Modi Stadium. Yousuf specifically highlighted the psychological impact of former pacer Mohammad Amir, who has been a vocal critic of the Indian side from the television studios.
Mohammad Amir predicts India won’t reach T20 World Cup 2026 semis
The friction began well before the first ball was bowled in Ahmedabad, fueled by Amir’s appearances on various talk shows where he questioned the technical depth of India’s new-look top order. Amir sparked a massive controversy by labeling Indian sensation Abhishek Sharma as a ‘mere slogger’ who lacked the temperament for high-pressure ICC matches, a claim that drew sharp rebukes from Indian legends like Harbhajan Singh.
Furthermore, Amir boldly predicted that South Africa was the superior tactical side and that India would likely fail to even qualify for the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup 2026. As India’s batting lineup crumbled for just 111 runs in the Super 8 opener, Amir’s critiques appeared to haunt the hosts, leading to a sense of vindication for the former Pakistani pacer and providing the perfect ammunition for Yousuf to launch his online taunts.
In a post that quickly went viral across the subcontinent, Yousuf delighted in the accuracy of Amir’s ‘reading’ of the game, playfully referring to him as a ‘menace’ who refuses to let the Indian team find any peace. Yousuf used his platform to highlight how the Indian players are currently ‘under fire’ from both their own fans and external critics, suggesting that the psychological pressure from the ‘studio’ is proving just as effective as any on-field bowling attack.
“Oye @iamamirofficial, you menace! You tormented India on the field, and now you’re rattling them from the studio. Let them breathe, they’re already under fire. South Africa, the finalists, have picked up right where they left off last T20 World Cup. A formidable side! Top order stumbled, but the lower order delivered, and the bowling discipline was exceptional.” Yousaf said.
Oye @iamamirofficial, you menace! You tormented #India on the field, and now you’re rattling them from the studio. Let them breathe, they’re already under fire. South Africa, the finalists, have picked up right where they left off last #T20WorldCup. A formidable side! Top order…
— Mohammad Yousaf (@yousaf1788) February 22, 2026
Beyond the trolling, Yousuf’s commentary also shed light on the professional clinicality of the South African side. He noted that despite a rocky start where the Proteas were reeling at 20/3, their lower order showed the resilience that India lacked. The mention of South Africa as ‘finalists’ who have maintained their momentum serves as a bitter reminder to the Indian camp that their quest to defend the title is now in serious jeopardy, with the remaining games against Zimbabwe and West Indies now serving as virtual quarter-finals.
