Ahmedabad: World No.1 in the T20 format, India suffered a stunning defeat against fifth-ranked South Africa on Sunday in front of 90,954 spectators in Ahmedabad. Following the heavy setback, millions of Indian cricket fans are wondering how much of a chance Team India still has to qualify for the semi-finals in the Super Eight round of the ICC World Cup.
This was the first defeat of the tournament for Suryakumar Yadav’s team. However, India still has the opportunity to bounce back and secure a semi-final berth.
Pride Hurt in Ahmedabad, Winning Streak Halted
On February 15 in Colombo, India had bowled out Pakistan for just 114 runs and registered a commanding 61-run victory. In contrast, on Sunday, February 22 in Ahmedabad, South Africa handed India a taste of their own medicine by restricting them to 111 and winning by a massive 76 runs.
India had won their previous 12 matches in T20 World Cup history, but that remarkable winning streak came to an end on Sunday.
India Capable of a Strong Comeback
Batting first, South Africa posted 187 for seven in 20 overs. Player of the Match David Miller scored 63 runs, Dewald Brevis contributed 45, and Tristan Stubbs remained unbeaten on 44. Jasprit Bumrah claimed three wickets, while Arshdeep Singh picked up two.
In reply, India were bundled out for just 111 in 18.5 overs, with Shivam Dube’s 42 being the highest score. Marco Jansen took four wickets, Keshav Maharaj grabbed three, Corbin Bosch claimed two, and Aiden Markram took one.
Despite the setback, the world’s top-ranked Indian side has the capability to recover from this blow and return to winning ways, though they will need to overcome a challenging phase.
How Can India Reach the Semi-Finals Now?
- In the Super Eight round, India’s next match is against Zimbabwe on Thursday, February 26 in Chennai (7:00 PM IST). India must win this game.
- India will also need to win their match against the West Indies on Sunday, March 1 in Kolkata.
- In Group 1, if India finish level on points with another team, the side with more wins will qualify for the semi-finals.
- If two teams are tied on points and number of wins, the decision will be based on Net Run Rate (NRR). The team with the superior NRR will advance.
- If teams remain tied even after considering NRR, the head-to-head record between the tied teams will be taken into account. The team with better results and NRR in those matches will qualify.
- If the deadlock still persists, the team ranked higher in the ICC World Rankings as of February 6, 2026, will progress to the semi-finals.
India’s path is challenging but far from closed. A strong comeback in the remaining matches could still keep their World Cup hopes alive.
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