Billed as a blockbuster rematch of the T20 World Cup 2024 final, India’s aura of invincibility was shattered by South Africa’s submission to the defending champions. A stunning 76 run defeat in the opening game of the Super 8 at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday. The defeat snapped India’s impressive 12-match winning streak in T20 World Cups and marked their biggest defeat in the tournament’s history, surpassing their 49-run loss to Australia in 2010. Chasing a target of 188, the hosts headed into serious preparations with 1151 questions against a paltry team. and approach.
Three main reasons behind India’s massive defeat against South Africa
1. Catastrophic high-stakes failure exposes hitting weaknesses
Struggling against weaker opposition in the group stage, India’s much-vaunted batting line-up crumbled spectacularly in the face of quality bowling on the black clay surface the ball held. The problems came in the first game, after captain Aiden Markram had removed an in-form Ishan Kishan for a four-ball duck, standing over him and hitting an ugly cross.
Tilak Varman’s miserable tournament continued as he drove just two balls, charged at Marco Jansen and paid the price while also reviewing a DRS. Abhishek Sharma finally ended the ducks’ hat-trick but was completely out of order before falling to Jansen for 15. The chase was effectively dead at 3 for 26 inside the Powerplay.
Captain Suryakumar Yadav’s struggles on difficult surfaces continued as he managed just 18 off 22 balls and drove one straight to mid-wicket, failing to clear the ball on a difficult track. The top-order’s inability to form a partnership left India at 51 for 5 in 10 overs, with the required run-rate out of reach. Suryakumar admitted after the match: “You can’t win the game in the powerplay, but you can lose the game in the powerplay. We lost too many wickets in the powerplay and then we couldn’t have the small partnerships.”
2. Controversial selection call: Dropping Axar Patel backfires
Perhaps the most criticized aspect of India’s defeat was the decision to drop the vice-captain. Akhar Patel Washington in favor of Sundar. As explained by assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate, the move, based on “face-offs” against left-handers, backfired disastrously as Sundar failed to contribute either with the bat or the ball.
Ten Doeschate explained the tactical rationale: “We were looking at matches more in the middle. And then obviously someone has to give way…we felt we needed Rinku as an eighth batsman, so to speak.” However, the decision looked all the more perplexing when Sundar was sent to No. 5 after an early fall – a role that Akhar played effectively for India.
This move has caused sharp criticism from experts and fans. Sundar’s lack of end-game experience and inability to make an impact proved costly as the fragility of India’s middle order was completely exposed.
3. Loss of intensity after early advances allows South Africa to recover
Despite Jasprit Bumrah’s brilliance – his 3 for 15 made him India’s highest wicket-taker in T20 World Cup history – the team failed to capitalize on a sensational start that reduced South Africa to 20 in four overs.
Instead of piling on the pressure, the intensity in India’s bowling dropped noticeably, allowing David Miller and Dewald Brewis to put together a 97-run partnership off just 51 balls. Miller’s 63 off 35 and Brevis’ 45 off 29 completely changed the momentum as the duo expertly assessed the conditions and rebuilt the innings.
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South Africa captain Aiden Markram later emphasized that this partnership was crucial: “I think first and foremost it was the partnership. The guys were great, pulled it together for us, steadied the ship and kept us in the game. I thought our hitting up the middle was probably the difference.”
Varun Chakravarthy, the enigmatic spinner who had been so effective in the group stage, was taken for 47 runs in four overs as the South African batsmen deftly neutralized him. A total of 188 was reduced from what should have been 160, and India’s overconfident approach after the early breakthroughs proved costly.
With their Net Run Rate down to -3,800, India now face must-win battles against Zimbabwe in Chennai on February 26 and West Indies in Kolkata on March 1 to keep their semi-final hopes alive.
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