AHMEDABAD: David Miller’s superb half-century and a combined bowling effort helped South Africa beat India by 76 runs in the third Super Eight match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday.
It was India’s first loss in the ongoing 20-team tournament and ended their 13-match unbeaten run at T20 World Cups since a heavy 10-wicket loss to England in the semi-finals of the 2022 edition.
However, this was the Men in Blue’s first defeat in 18 matches in all ICC competitions, with their last setback coming against Australia in the ICC Men’s Cricket World Cup 2023 final, coincidentally at the same venue.
Chasing a tough target of 188 runs, the home side piled on 111 runs in 18.5 overs before a brave performance by Shivam Dubey.
The all-rounder waged a lone battle for his home team and top-scored with a heroic 42 runs, but his efforts were not enough to lead the reigning champions unbeaten in 14 T20 World Cups.
Apart from him, fellow all-rounder Hardik Pandya and captain Suryakumar Yadav, with 18 each, opener Abhishek Sharma (15) and middle-order batsman Washington Sundar (11) could score double figures against South Africa’s restrained bowling attack.
Johnson led South Africa’s bowling with a four-wicket haul, followed by three wickets from veteran spinner Keshav Maharaj, all of which came in a pulsating 15th over.
Corbin Bosch picked up two wickets to support them, while skipper Aidan Markram was caught with a scalp.
Opting to bat first, the Proteas amassed 187/7 in 20 overs, adding 97 runs for the fourth wicket between Miller and Devald Previs.
South Africa, however, got off to a mixed start to their innings as India’s pace duo Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh outclassed their top order, which included captain Aiden Markram, wicketkeeper-batsman Quinton de Kock and Ryan Rickelton for just 20 runs in four overs.
Following an early setback, Miller joined Previs in the middle and the duo batted bravely to put on a stunning recovery by adding 97 runs for the fourth wicket off 49 balls.
The threat was broken by Shivam Dubey in the 13th over when Previs was caught at deep mid-wicket by Abhishek Sharma.
Previs was out again after scoring a crucial 45 off 29 balls with the help of three sixes and several fours.
Miller then put on a 35-run partnership with Tristan Stubbs for the fifth wicket before eventually falling to Varun Chakraborty in the 16th over to give South Africa a top-scoring 63 off 35 balls with 7 fours and 3 sixes.
His dismissal halted South Africa’s flow of runs as the Indian bowlers tightened their grip, and eventually Arshdeep dismissed Marco Johnson with the second delivery of the 18th over.
Stubbs, on the other hand, batted till the end and scored an unbeaten 44 off 24 balls with 3 sixes and a four to add valuable runs to South Africa’s total.
Bumrah led India’s bowling with 3 wickets for just 15 runs in his four overs, followed by Arshdeep with 2 wickets, while Chakraborty and Dubey claimed a scalp each.