Ahmedabad, February 23: In a surprising turn of events, Team India suffered a significant defeat against South Africa by 76 runs during the T20 World Cup 2026 on Sunday. This marks the Indian team’s first loss in an ICC event since the 2023 ODI World Cup.
Before this match, India had an impressive record, winning all 17 matches across all formats in ICC events since the 2023 World Cup. However, their winning streak came to an abrupt halt at the Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium.
Chasing a target of 188 runs set by South Africa, the Indian team collapsed to a mere 111 runs, resulting in their largest defeat in T20 World Cup history. The batting order disintegrated like a house of cards, with Ishan Kishan returning to the pavilion without scoring. Abhishek Sharma managed only 15 runs, while Tilak Varma was dismissed for just one run. Suryakumar Yadav scored 18 runs before falling to Corbin Bosch. Washington Sundar and Hardik Pandya also failed to make a significant impact with the bat.
Shivam Dube was the only bright spot for India, scoring 42 runs off 37 balls, but lacked support from the other batsmen. On the bowling front, South Africa’s Marco Jansen delivered an outstanding performance, taking four wickets for just 22 runs in 3.5 overs, while Keshav Maharaj claimed three wickets.
Earlier, South Africa posted a total of 187 runs after losing seven wickets in their 20 overs, with David Miller leading the charge with a brilliant 63 runs off 35 balls, including seven fours and three sixes. Dewald Brevis also contributed significantly with a quick-fire 45 runs off 29 balls. For India, Jasprit Bumrah was the standout bowler, taking three wickets for just 15 runs.
Bhupendra Singh Chundawat is a seasoned technology journalist with over 22 years of experience in the media industry. He specializes in covering the global technology landscape, with a deep focus on manufacturing trends and the geopolitical impact on tech companies. Currently serving as the Editor at Udaipur Kiran, his insights are shaped by decades of hands-on reporting and editorial leadership in the fast-evolving world of technology.
