Sunday’s Super 8 encounter at Ahmedabad turned disastrous for India, bowled out for a paltry 111 in pursuit of South Africa’s commanding 188. The 76-run defeat stands as India’s most lopsided T20 World Cup loss by runs, halting their victory sequence that traced back to the 2022 semifinal exit versus England.
South Africa’s pace and spin duo orchestrated a masterclass, crumbling India’s chase amid scoreboard frenzy. This score cements its place as the third-lowest for India in T20 World Cups, trailing only the 79 all out to New Zealand in 2016 (same venue) and 110 in 2021. Rounding out the bottom five: 118 vs South Africa (2009), 119 vs Pakistan (2024 win).
Semifinal qualification now hangs by a thread, with a plummeting net run rate demanding Herculean efforts in the next two outings. Zimbabwe awaits in Chennai on February 26, then West Indies in Kolkata on March 1—both must yield blowout wins.
In the aftermath, India’s camp faces intense scrutiny, but history shows resilience in adversity. Can they rebound? The stakes couldn’t be higher as the tournament intensifies.