Navi Mumbai: Ishan Kishan’s 20-ball half-century helped India beat South Africa by 30 runs in a warm-up match for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.
Opting to bat first in the final of the previous edition, the home side posted the group’s highest total of 240/5 in 20 overs, courtesy of a collective effort from their batsmen.
Leading the way for them was opener Ishan Kishan, who scored 53 runs off 20 balls with 7 sixes and 2 fours before retiring in the sixth over.
Tilak Verma (45), Axar Patel (35 not out), skipper Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya, with 30 each, contributed significantly at the back to help the home team post a huge score.
For South Africa, Gwena Mabaga, Henrich Nordje, Corbin Bosch and Marco Johnson can take one wicket each.
Chasing a tough target of 241 runs, the previous edition’s runners-up could amass 210/7 in their 20 overs, losing by 30 runs.
Middle-order batsman Tristan Stubbs smashed 45 off 21 balls with 4 sixes and a four, followed by wicketkeeper batsman Ryan Rickeldon with 44 off 21 balls.
Apart from them, skipper Aiden Markram (38), Jason Smith (35) and Johnson (31) contributed well but their efforts could not steer the Proteas over the line.
Abhishek Sharma took 2 for 32 in his three overs while Varun Chakraborty, Patel, Shivam Dubey and Arshdeep Singh bowled well with a scalp each.