South Africa’s captain Aiden Markram turned the Narendra Modi Stadium into his personal stage Thursday, smashing an unbeaten 82 off 46 balls to lead a 9-wicket demolition of West Indies in T20 World Cup 2026.
Chasing 177, South Africa romped home in 16.1 overs, losing just one wicket. Markram’s fireworks – including 7 boundaries and 4 maximums – not only secured the win but also rewrote history. He overtook Rohit Sharma’s 257 runs to claim second spot for most runs by a captain in a single T20 World Cup.
Markram also became South Africa’s highest scorer in one edition with 264 runs, dethroning Quinton de Kock’s 243 from the previous year. As captain, his 14th win equals Kane Williamson’s tally, trailing only MS Dhoni.
De Kock’s 47 off 24 set the tone with a 95-run opening stand in 48 balls. Rickelton’s unbeaten 45 ensured back-to-back super-8 triumphs. This performance underscores Markram’s evolution into a clutch performer, boosting South Africa’s campaign.