Ahmedabad erupted in disbelief as South Africa handed India a historic 76-run thrashing in the T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8 match—the largest margin of defeat by runs ever for the Men in Blue in the tournament’s annals. The Narendra Modi Stadium, still haunted by the 2023 final memories, witnessed another nightmare on Sunday.
Batting first, South Africa posted 187/7, thanks to a masterclass from their middle order. David Miller’s 63 off 35 balls set the tone, complemented by Brevis’s 45 (29) and Stubbs’s unbeaten 44 (24). Bumrah’s 3 wickets offered brief hope, but the Proteas’ firepower proved too much.
India’s chase unraveled spectacularly. Bowled out for 111 in 18.5 overs, only Shivam Dube’s 42 provided any resistance amid a batting meltdown. Jansen’s 4/22 spell dismantled the top and middle order, exposing deep vulnerabilities.
Historically, this surpasses the 49-run loss to Australia in 2010 and the 47-run defeat to New Zealand in 2016. It’s India’s second-worst T20I loss by runs after the 80-run hammering in 2019. Breaking a dominant run since the 2022 semi-final loss—21 wins in 23 multi-nation T20s—this defeat snaps an 18-match ICC unbeaten streak post-2023 final.
Captain and coaches face mounting pressure as India’s campaign hangs in balance. With Super 8 intensity ramping up, can Rohit Sharma’s side rebound from this low point? The road to the semis now demands perfection.