Former Pakistan pacer Mohammad Amir has predicted that India will fail to reach the semi-finals of the ongoing T20 World Cup 2026, pointing to their batting collapses as the reason.

He believes South Africa and West Indies will advance from Group 1 instead.

He made the prediction during a recent TV show when the host asked him to name his two qualifiers from Group 1, which features India, South Africa, West Indies and Zimbabwe.

Amir picked South Africa and West Indies, leaving India out entirely.

When the host pressed him, asking “So you’re saying India won’t qualify at all? Why?” Amir explained his reasoning.

“From all the matches I have seen so far, their [India’s] batting keeps collapsing except against Pakistan. The Super 8 has even more pressure games. I feel how South Africa and West Indies are playing, they can beat any team,” he said.

The numbers give Amir some ground to stand on. India lost six wickets for 76 runs in their opening match against USA before Suryakumar Yadav’s 84 off 49 balls rescued them to 161. USA were eventually bowled out for 132 in the chase.

Against Namibia, India were cruising at 204 for 4 in 18 overs but stumbled to 209 for 9 by the end of their innings.

India’s opener Abhishek Sharma has also been a particular concern, managing three ducks in three appearances at the tournament.

Earlier, Amir had flagged Sharma as a risk well before the tournament’s Super 8 stage. Speaking ahead of India’s group stage matches against Pakistan and Netherlands, he said, “He looks like a slogger to me. He just tries to hit every ball. If it connects, it connects. But most of the time, the chances of failure are higher.”

“The way he swings the bat, there doesn’t seem to be much technique. It’s more like, ‘Just give me the ball and I’ll swing.’ Technically, I haven’t found him very sound,” Amir added.

He did acknowledge Sharma’s destructive potential on a good day. “I’m giving an honest opinion. I’m also saying that on the day it comes off, it really comes off, and he can hurt any team. But his game is very high risk. Secondly, he even struggles against a good slower ball,” he said.

Sharma’s subsequent performances proved Amir right, as he fell for ducks against both Pakistan and Netherlands.

The Super 8 stage features India, South Africa, West Indies and Zimbabwe in Group 1, with Pakistan, New Zealand, England and Sri Lanka in Group 2. 

Pakistan open their Super 8 campaign against New Zealand on Saturday.