David Miller’s knock put the pressure back on India.
| Photo Credit: VIJAY SONEJI
A Sunday night that commenced on a boisterous note lapsed into silence as the hours ebbed away at the Narendra Modi Stadium. Defending champion India suffered its first defeat in the current T20 World Cup as South Africa emphatically won the Super Eight Group 1 match by 76 runs.
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Meek surrender
Pursuing South Africa’s 187 for seven, the Men in Blue were bundled out for 111 in 18.5 overs. During the chase, India suffered a double blow up front.
Ishan Kishan and Tilak Varma rushed their shots against Aiden Markram and Marco Jansen respectively, and retreated to the hut.
Meanwhile, Abhishek Sharma guided Markram for four and his clenched fist was an instant sign of relief after being stuck on zero in his previous three outings.
There was hope when Suryakumar Yadav etched his fours and Abhishek upper-cut a six off Kagiso Rabada.
Just as the crowd regained its voice, Abhishek spooned a catch off Jansen, and the Indian think-tank promoted Washington Sundar to seal the cracks.
The southpaw hung around, smote Keshav Maharaj for six, and then edged Corbin Bosch. And once captain Suryakumar too perished to the seamer, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, and the rest, were left with too steep a mountain to climb.
Earlier, Markram won the toss and opted to bat while a sea of blue flowed into the massive venue. After an economical first over from Arshdeep Singh, the South African skipper watched fellow-opener Quinton de Kock strike Jasprit Bumrah for a four, and get castled off the very next delivery.
Markram followed suit, popping a catch off Arshdeep, and the Proteas were unsettled when Ryan Rickelton too departed.
Having pulled a six off Arshdeep, the batter lobbed Bumrah’s slower delivery, straight to an eager Dube.
From three for 20, the visitors found some relief through David Miller’s fours. Miller (63) was decisive in his shots, and that attitude rubbed onto Dewald Brevis too.
Both hit a six each off Varun Chakaravarthy as a partnership took shape for the fourth wicket.
Dube, too, was toyed around until Brevis miscued a shot and that concluded the 97-run alliance.
However, Miller soldiered on and the Indians turned erratic. The southpaw finally holed out in the deep while trying to plunder Varun.
Bumrah excels
The host pulled back at the death, thanks to Bumrah, even as Tristan Stubbs swung his bat and helped the Proteas register a score that stayed well beyond India’s reach.
Published – February 22, 2026 11:16 pm IST
