AHMEDABAD: In a crushing defeat at the hands of South Africa in the Super-8 clash of T20 World Cup 2026, India capitulated by 76 runs at Narendra Modi Stadium. Captain Suryakumar Yadav reflected on the loss, praising the bowling effort but pointing fingers at the batting collapse that sealed their fate.
South Africa posted a challenging 187 for 7 in their 20 overs, thanks to a gritty middle-order recovery after a shaky start. India, in chase, crumbled to 111 all out in just 18.5 overs, handing the Proteas a comprehensive victory.
‘I thought we were in the game right from the start,’ Suryakumar said post-match. ‘Our initial bowling was outstanding, reducing them to 21 for 3. Their batting between overs 7-15 was commendable, but we fought back later. Overall, bowling was solid; we just needed more from the bat.’
He highlighted the powerplay woes: ‘Chasing 180-185, you don’t win in the powerplay, but you can certainly lose there. We lost too many wickets early and couldn’t build those crucial partnerships.’
Jasprit Bumrah starred with 3/15, while Arshdeep Singh claimed 2/28. ‘Everyone knows how lethal Bumrah and Arshdeep are together,’ Surya noted. ‘They bowled 8 overs, took nearly 5 wickets for 45-50 runs. That’s what we expect from our experienced duo.’
Looking ahead to the February 26 clash with Zimbabwe, Suryakumar remained optimistic. ‘We’ll keep it simple—good batting, bowling, and fielding. Play our brand of cricket. We’ll bounce back stronger.’
This loss marks India’s first in Super-8, but the captain’s resolve signals a determined comeback in the tournament.