The Indian cricket team’s 12-match winning streak at the 20-over showpiece came to an end with a 76-run defeat against South Africa in the Super 8 stage of the T20 World Cup 2026 in Ahmedabad on Sunday.
The world No. 5 Proteas rode a counter-attacking surge from David Miller (63), Dewald Brevis (45) and Tristan Stubbs (44 not out) to post 187/7 in their 20 overs at the Narendra Modi Stadium.
Jasprit Bumrah (3/15) and Arshdeep Singh (2/28) were the pick of the bowlers for India.
India, the world No. 1 T20 side, was bowled out for 111 in 18.5 overs. Shivam Dube (42) top-scored for the defending champions while Marco Jansen (4/22) and Keshav Maharaj (3/24) were the best bowlers for the Proteas.
This was India’s first loss in a T20 World Cup match since going down against eventual champions England at the 2022 edition in Australia.
The loss means India remains pointless in Group 1 of the Super 8 stage. West Indies and Zimbabwe will start their Super 8 campaign on Monday. South Africa, meanwhile, sits on top of the table with a Net Run Rate (NRR) of 3.800.
Choosing to bat after winning the toss, the South African cricket team was rattled early as India’s new-ball pair of Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh struck in quick succession. 
Bumrah crashed through Quinton de Kock’s defences with a sharp nip-backer before outfoxing Ryan Rickelton with a slower ball.
Arshdeep removed skipper Aiden Markram, leaving the Proteas reeling at 20/3 after four overs.
Dewald Brevis and David Miller steadied the innings with a 97-run stand off 51 balls.
Brevis’ 45 off 29 - featuring three fours and as many sixes - dragged South Africa back into the contest before a mistimed pull off Shivam Dube halted his charge at 117/4.
Miller then raised a half-century off just 26 balls and continued to clear the infield with ease, compiling 63 off 35 deliveries.
Miller’s knock, studded with seven fours and three sixes - two from free hits - was at the heart of South Africa’s revival before Varun Chakravarthy dismissed him in the 16th over.
The finishing touch came from Tristan Stubbs, whose unbeaten 44 off 24 balls gave South Africa a strong finish. He scored 20 runs off Hardik Pandya in the final over, including back-to-back sixes off the last two deliveries.
Defending a target of 188, South African bowlers found early movement and discipline to rip through the Indian top order.
Ishan Kishan was the first to go, lasting just four balls against Aiden Markram’s off-spin in the first over.
Tilak Varma followed soon after, charging down the track to Marco Jansen and feathering a length ball through to Quinton de Kock, reducing India to 5/2 in the second over.
Jansen struck again to remove Abhishek Sharma, whose attempted lofted shot against a knuckle-ball went up in the air before Corbin Bosch held on after a near collision with Keshav Maharaj.
Suryakumar Yadav and Washington Sundar tried to stabilise the innings; however, both departed in quick succession.
Bosch returned to dismiss Sundar for 11 in the eighth over, while the Indian T20 captain Suryakumar Yadav was the next to walk back to the dugout a couple of overs later.
At the halfway stage, India were 57/5, needing 131 off the back 10 at 13.1 runs per over.
Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube put on a 35-run partnership for the sixth wicket, but South Africa kept the squeeze on, leaving India 102 to get from the last six overs.
A three-wicket over from Keshav Maharaj further reduced India to 88/8 in 15 overs.
Shivam Dube’s 42 off 37 ensured India crossed the 100-run mark and reduced the margin of defeat.
India’s next match at the T20 World Cup will be against Zimbabwe on Thursday. The defending champions will play West Indies in their final Super 8 match on Sunday.
IND vs SA, T20 World Cup 2026, Super 8, brief scores: South Africa 187/7 in 20 overs (David Miller 63; Jasprit Bumrah 3/15) beat India 111/10 in 18.5 overs (Shivam Dube 42; Marco Jansen 4/22) by 76 runs.