South Africa delivered a clinical performance to defeat India by 76 runs in the Super 8 stage of the T20 World Cup 2026, exposing tactical gaps in Suryakumar Yadav’s side. At the Narendra Modi Stadium, the much-anticipated clash turned into a lesson in adaptability as the Proteas executed their plans to near perfection.

Despite the home support, India struggled to counter South Africa’s disciplined bowling attack, particularly the consistent use of slower deliveries on a pitch that offered grip and uneven bounce.

The slower-ball ploy that stalled India

If one bowler embodied South Africa’s methodical approach, it was Lungi Ngidi. Though his figures of 4-0-15-0 did not include wickets, his spell applied relentless pressure. Recognising that the black-soil surface was holding up, Ngidi shifted away from outright pace and relied heavily on off-cutters and slower bouncers without altering his arm speed.

Indian batters found it difficult to time the ball, and boundaries dried up. Forced to manufacture shots, they took risks that failed to pay off, leading to a collapse against a disciplined attack.

Complementing Ngidi’s control was Marco Jansen, who used his height to extract uneven bounce. Jansen’s 4/22 came from a heavy length that proved hard to negotiate, particularly with slower balls dropping sharply from a higher release point. South Africa’s sharp fielding further tightened the screws, with minimal errors in the field.

Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin said the team appeared underprepared for South Africa’s strategy. He noted that Suryakumar Yadav faced a majority of slower deliveries and highlighted the absence of back-of-a-length balls, crediting South Africa’s execution with both bat and ball.

Miller and Brevis rebuild after early setback

South Africa’s innings had begun shakily at 20/3, but David Miller and Dewald Brevis steadied the ship with a calculated partnership. The duo focused on rotating strike and exploiting gaps before accelerating.

They targeted spinners Washington Sundar and Varun Chakaravarthy during the middle overs, with Chakaravarthy conceding 47 runs in his four overs.

Proteas captain Aiden Markram later said the pair put aside individual ambition to focus on partnerships and running between the wickets. Miller, who struck 63 off 35 balls, explained that they had planned to attack Chakaravarthy if he erred, adding that the surface did not offer excessive turn, allowing them to trust the line and play with intent.

The 97-run stand shifted momentum decisively in South Africa’s favour, setting up a commanding total that India ultimately failed to chase.

The emphatic win not only strengthened South Africa’s campaign but also underlined the importance of preparation and tactical flexibility at the highest level of T20 cricket.

Pakistan all-rounder Shadab Khan has reportedly been cautioned by the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) after his remarks about former cricketers triggered controversy during the ongoing ICC T20 World Cup.

The issue surfaced after Pakistan suffered a 61-run defeat to India earlier in the tournament. Speaking to the media later, Shadab responded to criticism from former players and said that while they were legends, they “could not do what we have done,” referring to Pakistan’s win over India in the 2021 T20 World Cup.

PCB conveys displeasure over comments

According to reports, the PCB expressed its dissatisfaction with Shadab’s post-match comments and advised him to be mindful of his language during media interactions. Team manager Naveed Cheema reportedly conveyed the board’s concerns to the all-rounder.

Sources were quoted as saying that Shadab had crossed the line during the press conference and was reminded to show respect to former cricketers, including his father-in-law, former Pakistan spinner Saqlain Mushtaq.

The board has also reportedly instructed the team management to ensure that players limit their comments strictly to match-related matters. It is understood that further action could follow if similar instances occur.

Remarks came after Namibia match

Shadab’s statement came after Pakistan’s 102-run win over Namibia in Colombo, where he scored 36 off 22 balls and returned figures of 3 for 13. The comments were seen as a response to criticism directed at the current squad following their defeat to India.

Former wicketkeeper-batter Kamran Akmal described Shadab’s remarks as unnecessary, saying such words against former players warranted caution.

Media interactions under tighter control

The Pakistan team management has reportedly adopted a cautious approach regarding player interactions with the media. No players were made available for two days prior to the high-profile India clash.

In a separate instance, when Usman Tariq appeared for a pre-match interaction ahead of the Namibia fixture, the team’s media manager intervened to prevent him from responding to a tactical question. The manager stated that head coach Mike Hesson had already addressed the matter after the India match.

Pakistan are scheduled to face New Zealand in their first Super Eight fixture in Colombo on Saturday, followed by matches against England and Sri Lanka in Pallekele later in the tournament.

India continued their unbeaten run in the T20 World Cup 2026 with a 17-run victory over Netherlands in their final Group A match at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Monday.

Batting first after winning the toss, India recovered from an early setback to post 193/6 in 20 overs. Netherlands responded with a spirited chase but were restricted to 176/7, handing India their fourth straight win of the group stage.

Dube rescues India after early blows

India’s innings began on a shaky note as both openers departed inside the powerplay. Abhishek Sharma endured a tough outing, registering his third consecutive duck in the tournament.

However, Shivam Dube turned the game around with a blistering 66 off just 31 deliveries. His aggressive knock provided the momentum India needed in the middle overs.

Captain Suryakumar Yadav added 34 runs, while Hardik Pandya (30) and Tilak Varma (28) chipped in with valuable cameos to lift India to a competitive total.

Varun’s double strike halts Dutch charge

In reply, Netherlands stayed in contention for much of the chase. Scott Edwards and Bas de Leede struck timely boundaries to keep the required rate within reach.

The turning point came in the 13th over when Varun Chakravarthy picked up two wickets in successive deliveries, leaving the Dutch side under pressure. He finished with three wickets, including a hat-trick opportunity that narrowly slipped away.

Dube also contributed with the ball, claiming two wickets, while Jasprit Bumrah delivered a key breakthrough by dismissing Edwards with a trademark yorker.

Despite late resistance from Noah Croes and Zach Lion-Cachet, Netherlands fell short by 17 runs.

India top Group A

With four wins from four matches, India finished at the top of Group A. Pakistan secured second place, followed by USA in third, Netherlands in fourth, and Namibia at the bottom without a win.

Dube was named Player of the Match for his decisive all-round performance.

India now head into the Super 8 stage carrying strong momentum and contributions from across their playing XI.