India’s 13-match unbeaten run at the T20 World Cup came to a crashing halt in Ahmedabad as South Africa handed the tournament hosts a sobering 76-run defeat in their opening Super Eights encounter. It was a result that not only jolted the number one-ranked side, but also threw Super Eights Group 1 wide open.
Opting to bat first, South Africa were rocked early by a fired-up Jasprit Bumrah. The fast bowler, who finished with a superb 3/15, became India’s all-time leading wicket-taker in T20 World Cup history during a devastating opening spell. Two of his wickets, along with one from Arshdeep Singh, reduced South Africa to 20/3 inside four overs, seemingly undoing Aiden Markram’s decision to bat first.
But India failed to press home the advantage — and that proved decisive.
Enter David Miller. Walking in amid a mini-collapse, the experienced left-hander counterattacked with authority, smashing 63 off 35 balls in a display of clean, calculated hitting. He found an able ally in the fearless Dewald Brevis, whose 45 off 29 injected momentum into the innings. The pair not only steadied the ship but flipped the pressure squarely back onto India.
Even after Shivam Dube broke their partnership, India’s grip on the innings never quite returned. Bumrah remained exceptional and Arshdeep disciplined, but loose overs from the supporting cast allowed South Africa to surge to 187/7. Late blows from Tristan Stubbs ensured the total was not just competitive, but imposing.
If India’s bowling lost control midway, their batting unravelled alarmingly.
Markram struck early with spin in the Powerplay, removing Ishan Kishan for a duck. Tilak Varma followed soon after, while Abhishek Sharma fell for 15 despite showing early promise. At 51/5 in the 10th over, the hosts were already staring at defeat.
The slide continued. Suryakumar Yadav struggled for fluency in an 18 off 22 balls, and neither Hardik Pandya nor Dube could engineer a recovery. The decisive blow came from left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj, who ripped through the middle order with three wickets in the 15th over to finish with 3/24. India were eventually bowled out for 111 — their heaviest defeat of any T20 World Cup to date.
Selection decisions also came under scrutiny, notably the continued omission of vice-captain Axar Patel in favour of Washington Sundar. Promoted to No. 5, Sundar managed 11 off 11 and returned figures of 0 for 17 in two overs, raising questions about the “tactical” reasoning cited at the toss.
For South Africa, the victory places them firmly atop the group and in command of their semi-final destiny. For India, it is a wake-up call. With must-win games against Zimbabwe and West Indies looming, their campaign now demands sharper execution — and perhaps braver selection — if they are to revive their World Cup ambitions.
