South Africa’s Keshav Maharaj (Centre) celebrates with captain Aiden Markram after taking the wicket of India’s Rinku Singh through the 2026 ICC Males´s T20 Cricket World Cup Tremendous Eights match between India and South Africa on the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on February 22, 2026. — AFP
South Africa, the earlier version’s runners-up, handed defending champions India a heavy 76-run defeat within the third Tremendous Eights match of the ICC Males’s T20 World Cup 2026 on the Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday, sparking combined reactions from followers and former gamers worldwide.
South Africa captain Aiden Markram’s determination to bat first paid dividends because the Proteas piled up a formidable whole of 187/7 of their 20 overs, courtesy of skilled David Miller’s gutsy half-century.
Miller top-scored for South Africa with a blazing 63 off 35 deliveries, studded with seven fours and three sixes.
He additionally shared a 97-run partnership for the fourth wicket with Dewald Brevis, who contributed with a 29-ball 45, whereas Tristan Stubbs gave a late push to the whole with an unbeaten 44-run cameo, coming off simply 24 balls.
In response, India’s batting unit crumbled towards a disciplined South African bowling assault and folded for a meagre 111 in 18.5 overs, ensuing of their first defeat for the Males in Blue within the ongoing 20-team event and ending their 13-match unbeaten streak in T20 World Cups since their gruelling 10-wicket defeat by the hands of England within the semi-final of the 2022 version.
India’s historic defeat moved followers and former cricketers alike, who took to X, previously Twitter, to precise their views.
Former England cricketer Michael Vaughan praised South Africa for his or her prowess in all three departments and termed the end result of the lately concluded fixture as a “hammering” for the holders.
“Wow… this is a hammering for India… Brilliant from SA with Bat, Ball and in the field,” Vaughan wrote on the microblogging web site.
South Africa’s cricketing legends, together with Graeme Smith and Herschelle Gibbs, additionally wrote appreciation posts for his or her nationwide males’s group following their historic victory.
“Big win, some big batting performances under pressure and bowlers and captain on top of their game,” Smith wrote.
However, former Indian cricketers, together with Irfan Pathan, Mohammad Kaif and Sanjay Manjrekar, expressed their disappointment over the defending champions’ crushing defeat by the hands of the Proteas and highlighted completely different areas of enchancment.
“Really disappointing performance from Team India today. The batting struggles were exposed by South African bowlers, but honestly, this has been a recurring issue throughout the World Cup,” Pathan wrote on X.
Kaif, who represented India in 13 Assessments and 125 ODIs, asserted India have two “weak links” of their bowling assault, whom the opposition can take liberty towards.
“South Africa today showed they have a high-class overall bowling attack, no bowler the opposition can go after. Can’t say the same about India, they have at least two weak links. Two bowlers who batsmen can take liberties,” Kaif acknowledged.
India’s defeat additionally put them on the receiving finish of social media trolling, particularly for a now-deleted commercial by the nation’s broadcasters, wherein they referred to as the South Africa group “chokers”.
One other cricket fan expressed his hope for higher commercials from the broadcasters following India’s latest loss.
“Sunday kaisa raha, Bhai?” wrote one other person on X.
