Questionable shot selection, lack of partnerships, and some fine bowling by South Africa led to the hosts’ downfall, ending their unbeaten 12-match streak in T20I World Cups.
For a side that had dominated the format since winning the title in the Caribbean in 2024, Sunday’s showing, particularly the batting, was nothing short of an embarrassment. The team, which effortlessly posted huge scores and breezed past massive totals, managed only 57 at the half-way mark of the run-chase and had half their side cooling their heels in the dugout.
Concerning signs were apparent in the group stage too, but the bowlers continued to find a way and get the job done.
However, the thin cracks got exposed when they were asked to chase. The pressure of the big stage clearly overwhelmed the batting as Ishan Kishan, Abhishek Sharma and Tilak Varma played some very ordinary shots. Abhishek sighed with relief when he scored his first run of the tournament, courtesy of a boundary, but he never looked at ease during his stay in the middle. The left-hander looked very short on confidence, and so did India’s designated No. 3 Tilak Varma.
Tilak has been scrutinised for his poor strike rate, and while he has enjoyed the backing of the selectors, coaches and team leadership, his performances aren’t inspiring much confidence. India tried to shake things up by promoting Washington Sundar up the order but even that backfired, just like his overall selection for this game ahead of the experienced Axar Patel. India’s vice-captain was on the bench for the second match in a row, and his absence was dearly felt with both bat and ball.
Shivam Dube fought a lone battle and minimised the net run-rate damage but the writing was clearly on the wall, leaving only mere formalities before South Africa sealed the comprehensive win. Marco Jansen & Co. combined to completely dominate the hosts and their smart use of the pitch, and conditions, helped them make a statement.
Bumrah and the rest
Earlier, Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh combined to keep the Proteas under the 200-run mark.
The innings can be divided into three phases. India dominated the powerplay, taking three wickets. South Africa rebuilt with David Miller and Dewald Brevis, but India seized control again between overs 16 and 19.
In the final four overs, the Aiden Markram-led unit scored 23 runs and lost three wickets, undoing the middle-phase efforts of Miller and Brevis, who combined to put together 97 runs. They also lost the same number of wickets in the powerplay but had a plan for the spin threat that was coming their way.
The left-right combination targeted Varun Chakravarthy and never allowed India’s X-factor to settle down on a pitch that offered little for spin.
In his first two overs, the World No.1 T20I bowler leaked 28 runs and Miller looked dangerous in front of the capacity crowd. From the moment he walked out to bat in the fourth over, the left-hander operated with calculated intent. He hit the ball where it was meant to be hit and didn’t retreat after the early wickets.
The presence of a busy Brevis at the other end gave the innings the much-needed impetus, and the two put on a breezy 97-run stand off just 50 deliveries.
When they were batting, a total of 200+ seemed very achievable, but India did well to pull things back in the final phase. Bumrah was at his menacing best in both the powerplay and the death overs. His last two overs conceded only 8 runs and another wicket added to his match tally made him India’s most successful bowler in T20I World Cup history.
Arshdeep sustained pressure from the other end with just a 7-run 18th over but the 20th over, bowled by Hardik, swayed momentum in South Africa’s favour. Tristan Stubbs hit back-to-back sixes off the final two deliveries to end the innings emphatically at 187/7. T20I cricket is all about riding the momentum when it is on your side. South Africa did that with the bat in the final over and then the bowlers later rode on it to outplay India in their first Super Eight clash.
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