Miller’s 63 and Jansen’s 4-22 headline statement win as defending champions suffer first defeat of tournament
Ahmedabad — In a high-voltage rematch of the 2024 T20 World Cup final, South Africa delivered a resounding statement of intent, thrashing tournament co-hosts India by 76 runs in their Super Eight Group One clash at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday.
The Proteas not only avenged their final defeat but announced themselves as genuine title contenders in emphatic fashion, handing India their first loss of the campaign.
Electing to bat first, South Africa recovered from a disastrous 20/3 to post a imposing 187/7, before their bowlers ripped through the Indian line-up to bundle the defending champions out for a paltry 111 in 18.5 overs.
Miller-Brevis partnership rescues Proteas
India’s new-ball attack struck early and struck hard. Jasprit Bumrah (3/15) castled Quinton de Kock, while Arshdeep Singh removed captain Aiden Markram inside the first three overs. Bumrah struck again with a clever change of pace to deceive Ryan Rickelton, leaving South Africa reeling.
What followed was a masterclass in recovery. David Miller (63 off 26 balls) and Dewald Brevis (45) joined forces for a scintillating 97-run partnership that not only halted the collapse but shifted momentum decisively. Brevis fell agonizingly short of a maiden World Cup fifty, but Miller raced to his in style.
Tristan Stubbs provided the late fireworks with an unbeaten 44 off 24 balls, laced with three sixes, propelling South Africa to a commanding total.
India’s top-order implodes
Chasing 188, India’s response unravelled in near-identical fashion to South Africa’s start—but without the rescue act.
Captain Aiden Markram’s tactical masterstroke to open with off-spin paid immediate dividends as he dismissed in-form Ishan Kishan in the first over. Marco Jansen removed Tilak Varma in the next, leaving India gasping at 9/2.
Abhishek Sharma (15) avoided a fourth consecutive duck but found no support. Washington Sundar (11) and skipper Suryakumar Yadav (18) offered brief resistance before the innings unravelled completely.
Maharaj, Jansen run riot
Keshav Maharaj delivered the knockout punch in a sensational 15th over, removing Hardik Pandya (18), Rinku Singh and Arshdeep Singh in quick succession to extinguish any lingering hopes.
Shivam Dube fought a lone battle with a gallant 42, lending respectability to the scoreline, but Jansen returned to clean up the tail. The left-armer dismissed Dube and Bumrah with successive deliveries to finish with outstanding figures of 4/22.
“It was about matching intensity and putting their bowlers under pressure,” said player-of-the-match Miller. “They’re world-class, but they bowl bad balls too. You have to be ready to capitalise.”
What it means
For South Africa, this was more than two points—it was a psychological breakthrough against the team that beat them in last year’s final. The manner of victory, overcoming early adversity before ruthlessly exploiting India’s weaknesses, signals a new resolve.
For India, the defeat exposes fragility in their top order and complicates their path to the semifinals. With qualification scenarios now tighter, the defending champions must regroup quickly.
South Africa, meanwhile, have sent a chilling message to every team in the tournament: they have arrived, and they mean business.
