Ahmedabad: In a stunning upset at the Narendra Modi Stadium, South Africa thrashed India by 76 runs in their Super-8 clash of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, leaving the hosts’ semi-final aspirations in tatters.
South Africa, opting to bat first after winning the toss, posted a formidable 187 runs, thanks to explosive knocks from David Miller, who smashed 63 off 35 balls, and Dewald Brevis with 45 off 29. Their 97-run partnership turned the tide after early setbacks, with Jasprit Bumrah claiming three wickets for India, including Quinton de Kock and Ryan Rickelton. Arshdeep Singh chipped in with two scalps, but Tristan Stubbs’ late flourish ensured a strong total.
Chasing 188, India’s batting lineup crumbled under pressure from the Proteas’ bowlers. Opener Ishan Kishan and Tilak Varma fell cheaply, followed by Abhishek Sharma’s brief 15. Suryakumar Yadav managed 18 off 22, but the middle order faltered. Shivam Dube top-scored with 42, while Hardik Pandya added 18 before Keshav Maharaj’s sensational over claimed three wickets, including Pandya and Rinku Singh. Marco Jansen starred with four wickets, and Lungi Ngidi took three, as India were bundled out for 111 in the 19th over.
This defeat plummets India’s net run rate to -3.80, complicating their path forward. South Africa, with four changes in their XI, looked revitalised. As the BCCI tweeted post-match: “South Africa win by 76 runs in Ahmedabad. #TeamIndia set their sights on a turnaround in the next game.”