T20 World Cup: India's winning streak ends in humiliation; lose by 76 runs to South Africa

Ahmedabad—India’s Super Eight campaign began with a jolt as South Africa dismantled the tournament favourites by 76 runs at a heaving Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday night, snapping the hosts’ 12-match unbeaten run in T20 World Cups and exposing the brittleness of a batting order that had until now been carried by its bowlers.

Chasing 188 on a surface that offered little venom, India were skittled for 111 in 18.5 overs, their heaviest defeat in the competition since the 2024 triumph in the Caribbean. The innings unravelled in three acts of misjudgement: reckless strokes inside the powerplay, a middle-overs chokehold wrought by Marco Jansen and Keshav Maharaj, and a late slide that reduced the final rites to formalities.

Ishan Kishan, Abhishek Sharma and Tilak Varma perished to airy drives, their combined 19 runs a damning indictment of a top order that had swaggered through the group stage. Abhishek, scoreless in the tournament until a mistimed loft found the boundary, never settled; Tilak, under fire for a flagging strike rate, scratched 8 from 14 before holing out. The promoted Washington Sundar managed 5, Axar Patel’s experience again left unused on the bench.

At 57 for 5 at the halfway mark of the chase, the contest was effectively over. Shivam Dube’s unbeaten 42 delayed the inevitable, but Jansen’s four-wicket burst and Maharaj’s canny three-for ensured South Africa sealed a statement win that throws Group 1 wide open.

Earlier, Jasprit Bumrah underscored his reputation as India’s most prolific World Cup bowler, claiming 3 for 15 and throttling the Proteas in the powerplay and death overs. Arshdeep Singh supported with 2 for 28, including a seven-run 18th over that appeared to tilt the match India’s way. Yet David Miller’s calculated 63 off 38 and Dewald Brevis’s enterprising 45 off 29 had already hauled South Africa to 144 for 3 by the 16th over. The pair’s 97-run stand off 50 balls neutralised India’s spin threat, with Varun Chakravarthy leaking 28 in his first two overs as the left-right combination targeted the shorter boundary.

Tristan Stubbs provided the late kick, slamming back-to-back sixes off Hardik Pandya’s final two deliveries to lift the total to 187 for 7—runs that proved academic long before the last Indian wicket fell.

The defeat leaves India needing swift recalibration ahead of their remaining Super Eight fixtures, while South Africa ride a surge of momentum and a net run-rate boost that could prove decisive in a tight group.

Brief Scores South Africa: 187 for 7 in 20 overs (David Miller 63, Dewald Brevis 45, Tristan Stubbs 44*; Jasprit Bumrah 3/15, Arshdeep Singh 2/28) India: 111 all out in 18.5 overs (Shivam Dube 42*; Marco Jansen 4/22, Keshav Maharaj 3/24, Corbin Bosch 2/12)