South Africa produced a complete performance to crush India by 76 runs in their Super Eights clash at the Narendra Modi Stadium. After opting to bat, the Proteas were hurt early at 20/3 despite a fiery opening spell from Jasprit Bumrah. However, the momentum shifted through a stunning 97-run stand between David Miller and Dewald Brevis. Miller smashed 63 off 35 balls, while Brevis added 45, rebuilding the innings. A late flourish from Tristan Stubbs, who remained unbeaten on 44, powered South Africa to 187/7.
In reply, India faltered from the beginning. Early wickets in the powerplay derailed the chase, and the middle order never recovered. While Shivam Dube top-scored with 42, South Africa’s bowlers maintained relentless pressure. Marco Jansen led the charge with four wickets, while Keshav Maharaj struck thrice to seal a dominant victory.
Top Batting performance of the match – David Miller
Veteran South African batter David Miller once again displayed his class against India. Walking in after the team lost three early wickets, Miller absorbed the early pressure created by Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh before counterattacking. The left-hander smashed 63 off just 35 balls, reaching his half-century in only 26 deliveries, the fourth-fastest fifty against India in T20 World Cup history. His innings, laced with seven fours and three sixes, shifted the momentum. Alongside Dewald Brevis, Miller stitched a crucial 97-run stand that revived South Africa’s innings and put India on the back foot.
Top Bowling performance of the match – Marco Jansen
South Africa’s bowling unit came out breathing fire in Ahmedabad, dismantling India with precision and discipline. While every bowler played their part in the collective assault, it was Marco Jansen who stood tallest with a four-wicket haul that broke the backbone of India’s chase. Jansen removed Tilak Varma in just his first over, forcing the batter into a false hit with a length delivery. The early breakthrough pushed India onto the back foot, and Jansen never allowed them to recover. Mixing He relied heavily on his knuckle-ball and back-of-the-hand slower deliveries. He then accounted for Abhishek Sharma, who miscued a lofted shot off a cleverly disguised, slower ball. Later, with India attempting a late push, Jansen dismissed Shivam Dube and wrapped up the innings by removing Jasprit Bumrah.
Records Broken and Major Milestones Achieved
- India suffered their first defeat in 18 ICC matches across formats since losing the 2023 World Cup final to Australia national cricket team at the same venue.
- It was India’s first loss in a multi-nation T20I tournament since the 2022 T20 World Cup semifinal defeat to England cricket team in Adelaide.
- In multi-nation T20Is since 2022, India have played 23 matches, winning 21 (including one Super Over), losing one, with one no-result.
- Since 2024 in T20 World Cups, South Africa have played 14 matches, winning 13 and losing just once, while India have played 13, winning 12 and losing once.
- South Africa’s only defeat in this period came against India in the 2024 T20 World Cup final in Bridgetown, whereas this was India’s first T20 World Cup loss since the 2022 semifinal.
- Tristan Stubbs became the first fielder in T20Is (with available data) to take three catches in a single over.
- The only other instance of three catches in an over was by Mitchell Hay, off Jacob Duffy, against Sri Lanka national cricket team in Mount Maunganui in 2024.
- In T20Is in Ahmedabad, teams defending 185 or more have won all eight matches (including one Super Over), while teams defending less than 185 have lost all four games.
- India’s highest successful chase in T20 World Cups remains 173 against South Africa in Mirpur in 2014.
- The second-highest successful chase against South Africa in T20 World Cups is England cricket team’s 230 at Wankhede in 2016.
- Jasprit Bumrah now leads India’s all-time T20 World Cup wicket charts with 33 wickets, surpassing Ravichandran Ashwin’s 32.
- David Miller and Dewald Brevis stitched a 97-run stand, South Africa’s highest fourth-wicket partnership in Men’s T20 World Cups, breaking the previous 76-run record set by JP Duminy and AB de Villiers.
Who was the Player of the Match?
David Miller was rightly named the Player of the Match award for his impressive batting performance. Miller looked at his absolute best and made sure that South Africa began their Super Eight stage on a positive note. Coming in after losing early wickets, the southpaw smashed 63 off just 35 balls and stitched crucial partnerships to take the team to a strong total.
What is the next match?
South Africa’s next task in the ongoing Super Eight stage is against the West Indies, with the two teams set to meet on 26 February in Ahmedabad. Meanwhile, India will take on Zimbabwe on the same day in Chennai.
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