The cupcake has come back to bite India. After South Africa’s crushing 76-run win in Ahmedabad, a pre-match promo mocking the Proteas has turned into easy ammunition for fans across social media.
India were bowled out for 111 chasing 188, suffering their heaviest defeat in T20 World Cup history and seeing their Net Run Rate plummet to -3.80. What was meant to be playful hype before the Super 8 clash now feels painfully mistimed.
In the days leading up to the match, a cafe-themed ad had shown an Indian fan joking about “repeating history” from the 2024 final while teasing a South African supporter over a cupcake. The punchline leaned into old narratives around South Africa’s ICC record.
But once the Proteas flipped the script on the field, the internet flipped it right back.
South African actor and influencer Thanja Vuur posted a cupcake-themed dig on Instagram after the result, playfully turning the metaphor around. Her post quickly gained traction, with Proteas supporters enjoying the reversal of roles.
Watch the video here:
It remains unclear whether the video was taken down before or after the match. But once South Africa produced a dominant display on Sunday night, the promo, wherever it stood, quickly became an uncomfortable footnote.
HOW SOUTH AFRICA THRASHED INDIA
South Africa did not just win, they took control and never let go.
Reduced to 20 for 3 inside the powerplay, the Proteas looked shaky early. But David Miller flipped the script. His 63 off 35 balls, packed with seven fours and three sixes, shifted the tempo. Alongside Dewald Brevis, who matched him stroke for stroke, Miller stitched a 97-run stand that rebuilt the innings and pushed South Africa to 187 for 7 — a total that felt above par under lights in Ahmedabad.
India’s chase unravelled quickly. Aiden Markram struck in the first over to remove Ishan Kishan. Tilak Varma fell soon after, and the pressure kept mounting. The top order failed to counterattack, the middle order could not string together partnerships, and the asking rate spiralled beyond control.
By the time the lower order walked in, the game was already slipping away. India were bowled out for 111, handing South Africa a 76-run win, which has now sent their push for a World Cup title defence in trouble.
CAN INDIA QUALIFY FOR T20 WORLD CUP SEMIS?
India are still in the race, but the margin for error is gone.
They face Zimbabwe in Chennai on February 26 and West Indies in Kolkata on March 1. Two wins are essential, and the size of those wins could matter just as much because of the Net Run Rate hit.
If Zimbabwe or West Indies beat South Africa, the group could open up further and make the maths tighter. For now, India’s job is simple: win big and fix the numbers.
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