In New Delhi, February 18 – UAE off-spinner Dhruv Parashar stated that his team would find ways to perform better against top-tier pace bowlers, especially after being defeated by a relentless South African attack, which led to their six-wicket defeat in the final Group D match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi on Wednesday.
The match was played on a challenging pitch due to overnight rain and the use of floodlights, with Corbin Bosch effectively utilizing the damp conditions to take 3-12 wickets, while Anrich Nortje took 2-28. Left-arm spinner George Linde maintained a tight line with 1-17, as the UAE innings lost momentum after a promising start.
Although Alishan Sharafu scored 45 runs, he lacked adequate support from the other end, as the South African bowling attack maintained a strong grip on the match. Despite dropping four catches, the Proteas ensured that the UAE could only manage 122/6.
"That's definitely a key factor. We have played in the Asia Cup and a tri-series a couple of months ago. I would say personally, the entire team played against Haris Rauf, Shaheen Afridi, and other Afghan pacers. But I think in their team, not a single bowler is below 140-145. In New Zealand, there's a medium pacer named Jimmy Neesham."
"You can target anyone who is not comfortable with pace. But in their team, all four fast bowlers were consistently around 145. So it was a new experience for us. We haven't played South Africa for a long time. So, it was a new situation, and we weren't used to it. But now we know that this is going to happen. So, we need to find a way to prepare for it," he said to reporters at the conclusion of the game.
Parashar also highlighted the unpredictable nature of the pitch under overcast conditions. "I think today was a fresh wicket, and the conditions were overcast. There was minimal moisture and dampness, as the sun didn't shine throughout the match. Normally, the pitch would dry out and flatten during the second innings, but it didn't happen. That's why it was a two-paced pitch," he said.
Parashar, who primarily bowls in the Power-play, explained that the decision to give him the new ball, where he conceded only one run in the opening over, was based purely on matchups. "I have been bowling in this phase for the past 1-2 years. I am comfortable in that role. Here, they had two left-handed openers."
"The opener (Quinton de Kock) was a left-hander, then (Aiden) Markram was a right-hander, and the number three (Ryan Rickelton) was also a left-hander. So, I started because of the matchup. Otherwise, I bowled a lot in the Power-play. But because the left-handed opener was opening, I opened the bowling," he said.
Despite the defeat, Parashar was optimistic about the overall performance of the UAE team in the tournament, pointing to a significant improvement in the team's batting across their World Cup campaign as evidence that the team is on the right track.
"After playing against such strong teams, we will move on to play against the associate nations (for the 2027 ODI World Cup qualification). We have an ODI tournament in two weeks. After that, there is another T20 tournament. So, obviously, there will be a lot of confidence in facing the associate nations, as we have played against the best teams – spinners, pacers, and our bowlers have also put in their best efforts against the top batters.
"So, everyone will have a lot of confidence. Personally, I was very happy with our batting performance before the tournament. But in this tournament, except for today, we had three matches with strong teams and showed good fight with our batting. We were able to score around 170-180, and our chase was also successful (against Canada). So, there has been growth, and hopefully, this is just the beginning, as we will see further improvement in the future," he said.
For Parashar personally, participating in the T20 World Cup carried significant meaning beyond the results. Playing a World Cup on Indian soil, especially after being selected for the mega event despite being left out of the preceding series against Ireland, fulfilled a dream that he had nurtured since his childhood, watching India win the ODI World Cup trophy in 2011.
"Definitely, it's a dream. I started playing cricket after watching the 2011 World Cup, when India defeated Sri Lanka in the final. That was the first moment. After that, my interest in cricket increased.
“Now, to play in the World Cup in India at my age, first of all, I am very grateful to the UAE cricket and the management for giving me this opportunity. I would like to thank everyone who has been a part of my journey. Hopefully, this is the beginning, and I will be able to play in many more World Cups," he said.
His father's relatives, who live nearby in India, traveled to see him play on the ground, with Parashar admitting that he only unexpectedly spotted his parents during the match. "All my family members came. My cousins from my dad's side, who lives nearby, and is a Punjabi. My mom and dad also came to see. I didn't know before, as I just happened to see them during the match."
Asked about his personal takeaways from the tournament, Parashar explained, "Learning-wise, I think definitely, I learned a lot from every match, and I try to reflect on it. In this tournament, for sure, there was a difference in skill. But I think more importantly, it's about tactics and how to play against every team and every batter. Everyone has their strengths, and how to focus on those strengths – like how to plan – is what I learned."
Parashar also emphasized that every member of the UAE side plays the game full-time. "No, everyone in our team plays full-time cricket unless I'm missing someone. But everyone is a full-time player, and we also play domestic cricket. We play full-time cricket in the UAE."
Off the field, a strong team culture has been a hallmark of the UAE's World Cup camp, with Parashar describing it as a relaxed and close-knit dressing room environment built around football, foot volleyball, and card games.
"In our practice sessions, we play football and foot volley. So, I personally enjoy it a lot, and I think everyone does too, as it's a lot of fun. We were in Chennai before the first match, so we used to play games and play dumb charades. Sometimes we play cards as a team. I mean, there's a good atmosphere in the team, and everyone is close to each other. So, it's good," he said.
