In a stunning turn of events at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, Team India suffered their first defeat in an ICC event since the 2023 ODI World Cup. Facing South Africa in the Super 8 round of the T20 World Cup 2026, the Men in Blue crumbled by 76 runs while chasing a formidable 188.
South Africa posted 187 for 7 in their 20 overs, powered by David Miller’s explosive 63 off 35 balls, featuring seven fours and three sixes. Dewald Brevis chipped in with a brisk 45 off 29 deliveries, setting a challenging total. India’s bowlers fought back valiantly, with Jasprit Bumrah leading the charge by claiming 3 wickets for just 15 runs in a spellbinding performance.
However, the chase turned into a nightmare. India were bowled out for a mere 111. The top order collapsed dramatically: Ishan Kishan fell for a duck, Abhishek Sharma managed 15, Tilak Varma scored just 1, and Suryakumar Yadav departed after 18. Shivam Dube’s gritty 42 off 37 offered some resistance, but it wasn’t enough as no other batter could build partnerships.
South Africa’s bowlers dominated, with Marco Jansen starring by taking 4 for 22 in 3.5 overs, and Keshav Maharaj grabbing 3 wickets. This marked India’s biggest T20 World Cup defeat by runs, halting their unbeaten streak of 17 ICC matches since the 2023 World Cup.
The loss raises questions about India’s batting fragility under pressure in big tournaments. As the Super 8 intensifies, Rohit Sharma’s side must regroup quickly to stay in contention for the semifinals.