South Africa halted India’s 12-match winning streak at the T20 World Cup with a dominant 76-run victory in their Super Eight opener in Ahmedabad.
After posting 187-7, South Africa dismantled India for 111 in 18.5 overs, handing the defending champions their first defeat of the tournament.
Miller and Stubbs Shift Momentum
A counter-attacking 63 from David Miller anchored the innings after South Africa slipped to 20-3 early. Dewald Brevis added 45 in a crucial 97-run partnership that rebuilt the platform.
Tristan Stubbs then accelerated sharply, finishing unbeaten on 44 from 24 deliveries. He capped the innings with back-to-back sixes off Hardik Pandya in the final over.
India’s standout bowler was Jasprit Bumrah, who returned figures of 3-15. However, the support around him proved insufficient.
India Collapse in the First Chase of the Tournament
Chasing 188, India faltered almost immediately.
South African captain Aiden Markram struck early with off-spin to remove Ishan Kishan. Marco Jansen soon dismantled the top order, finishing with 4-22. Tilak Varma and Abhishek Sharma fell cheaply as the hosts slipped to 51-5.
Spinner Keshav Maharaj delivered the decisive blow, claiming 3-24, including three wickets in a single over. Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, and Arshdeep Singh were dismissed in quick succession.
Shivam Dube’s 42 offered late resistance, but once he fell to Jansen, the end followed swiftly.
Super Eight Pressure Mounts
The result leaves India in a must-win position in the Super Eight stage. They must defeat Zimbabwe and the West Indies to remain in semi-final contention.
The heavy defeat also dents India’s net run rate, a factor that could become decisive in a tightly contested group.
The match carried added context. It was a rematch of the 2024 T20 World Cup final in Barbados, where India had prevailed. Their unbeaten run had stretched back to the 2022 semi-final loss against England.
South Africa’s clinical display in Ahmedabad resets the Super Eight narrative and reopens the race for knockout qualification.
Jasprit Bumrah stood out with figures of 3-15, maintaining control even as the contest slipped away. His spell, however, could not alter the trajectory of a match firmly dictated by South Africa.
With inputs from AFP.
South Africa’s captain Aiden Markram (C) celebrates with teammates Ryan Rickelton (L) and David Miller (R) after their team’s win at the end of the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 Cricket World Cup Super Eights match between India and South Africa at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on February 22, 2026.
AFP
