South Africa Take Revenge as Proteas Defeat India in T20 World Cup Super Eights Clash

Despite playing the entire group stage of the ongoing T20 World Cup, India collapsed like a house of cards in the first match of the Super Eights against South Africa (India Vs South Africa). Team India, which defeated the team that became the champion in the final of the 2024 T20 World Cup, proved on Sunday night that they have made a good hand in T20 in the intervening year. Fans probably could not have imagined that India, the current number one team in international T20s, would lose to South Africa like this.
On Sunday, India started the first match of the Super Eights in the T20 World Cup by winning the toss. Having passed the test of luck on this day, Team India decided to field first. In this way, the dangerous bowling department of Team India practically shook the batting order of South Africa, who came out to play the first innings with the bat. On this day, captain Aiden Markram and Quinton de Kock went to the wickets at a stormy pace in front of the Indian bowlers.
Seeing the beginning of the match, it seemed that India might have the last laugh today. Although David Miller and Brewers played important innings while standing on the ruins of the team. South Africa got 63 runs from the bat of Milad on this day. Brewers made 45. Tristan Stubbs also scored 44 runs unbeaten. South Africa set India a target of 188 runs on that basis.
South Africa are off to a winning start in Super 8s! 👏
ICC Men’s #T20WorldCup SUPER 8 👉 #ZIMvWI | MON, 23 FEB, 6 PM pic.twitter.com/ePiAPRt6aQ
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) February 22, 2026
The fans assumed that this target was nothing considering the batting department of India in T20s. However, as soon as Team India’s innings started, a different picture emerged. The powerful opener Ishan Kishan was out early for a duck. After struggling for a while, Abhishek Sharma also had to return for 15 runs. Tilak Verma also returned to the dressing room after 1 run. Captain Suryakumar Yadav was the team’s hope in difficult times. He also gave up after scoring 18 runs on this day. Washington Sundar also left the field after 11 runs off 11 balls. Watching the match, it seemed that Team India’s batsmen were not able to cope with anything in front of South Africa.
When the match was 70 for 5, Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dubey were trying their best to win India. The match was progressing slowly, leaning on the shoulders of the two Indian cricketers. Although by then the fans had completely given up hope of winning. They understood that it was not possible to turn around from here. Team India’s head coach Gautam Gambhir also knew that scoring 111 runs off 46 balls was not a matter of mouth. However, in cricket, the impossible is possible again and again. But today was probably not the day for India. So despite fighting, Team India could not maintain its standards in the end. The Suns finally admitted defeat after losing wickets continuously in front of South Africa. Meanwhile, the Proteas avenged their defeat in the World Cup in the Super Eights.