T20 World Cup: Loss against South Africa, a rude jolt to Indian campaign

India's T20 World Cup campaign faces a setback after a loss to South Africa, highlighting issues in their batting order.

If the opening match against the United States of America was seen as a muffled wake-up call, the encounter involving South Africa was a rude jolt. India’s winning streak in the ICC Twenty20 World Cup was finally snapped as the Proteas flourished at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday (February 23, 2026).

The Men in Blue had their rivals hobbling at 20 for three but the middle overs choke never happened. David Miller and Dewald Brevis stitched a kinetic 97-run partnership. And Varun Chakaravarthy’s mystery element was snuffed out as the left-right combine of Miller and Brevis remained busy.

A lack of discipline was evident too as India conceded 11 extras. Even if in the death, the splendid Jasprit Bumrah pegged back the visitors, South Africa’s 187 for seven was a competitive score. The fans, tipping over 80,000, were in good cheer before it all went downhill for the defending champion.

Through this championship, India has tended to lose its opening wicket with hardly anything on the scoreboard. The highest first-wicket partnership so far has been the 25 between Ishan Kishan and Sanju Samson against Namibia, else it has always been a case of a single digit and an instant breach.

Abhishek Sharma’s sudden dip in form evident in three zeros and a brief 15, has meant that the middle-order is often forced to salvage the innings. In a fickle arena that the T20Is are, Abhishek should be able to turn it around, but still in a global tournament, there is not much elbow room.

Suryakumar Yadav has resigned himself to be the binding glue instead of being the force-multiplier that the captain usually is. It is a direct reflection of the muddled top-order in which Tilak Varma is yet to fully get into his groove.