NEW DELHI: Former South Africa captain Shaun Pollock shared his assessment of India’s Super 8 defeat to the Proteas, saying the co-hosts failed to adjust to the conditions in Ahmedabad and did not recognise the “new ball challenge with the seam moving around.”South Africa ended India’s 12-match unbeaten run in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup with a commanding 76-run victory at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday.

India made an early impact as Jasprit Bumrah delivered a superb opening spell of 2/7. However, the Proteas bounced back strongly through a 97-run stand off just 51 balls between David Miller and Dewald Brevis. Tristan Stubbs then provided the finishing touch with an unbeaten 44 off 24 deliveries, powering South Africa past 180.“India didn’t adapt well to the conditions in Ahmedabad. South Africa had played three matches here already, so they knew what to expect. Yes, they struggled at first when they lost the wickets of Quinton de Kock, Aiden Markram and Ryan Rickelton early, but they did not stop adjusting as per the conditions. It was only when Brevis and Miller batted together that things worked for them.“Tristan Stubbs put his batting power to good use in the end to help South Africa reach 187. India’s chase would have been simple had they played carefully in the beginning,” Pollock said.In reply, India never found momentum in the powerplay and slipped to 31/3 after six overs. South Africa maintained control over the strong Indian batting unit, eventually bowling them out for 111 in 18.5 overs.“The first six overs was the toughest because the ball wasn’t coming onto the bat nicely. Instead, they went after the bowlers from the very first over. You can’t do that on this kind of a pitch while chasing a big total. They lost two early wickets and were under pressure right away. Sometimes, you have to be smart and patient. India didn’t change their approach. They didn’t realise that the new ball would be the biggest challenge with the seam moving around,” he added.India must now win their remaining matches against Zimbabwe and the West Indies to keep their semi-final hopes alive, especially with their net run rate slipping to -3.8.

India’s T20 World Cup title defence suffered a significant setback after a crushing 76-run defeat to South Africa in a high-stakes Super 8 clash. The night had begun brightly for the hosts, who reduced the Proteas to 20/3 with a sharp new-ball burst. But what followed was a complete shift in momentum, driven by a calculated counter-attack in the middle overs.David Miller turned the tide with a commanding 63 off 35 deliveries, striking seven fours and three sixes. Calm and assured for most of his innings, he rebuilt South Africa’s total alongside Dewald Brevis and Tristan Stubbs, steering the innings towards a competitive 187/7.However, Miller’s composure briefly slipped during a tense on-field exchange with Washington Sundar. The flashpoint came when Stubbs nudged a single to the leg side and Miller set off from the non-striker’s end. Sundar appeared unhappy, believing Miller had left his crease early before the ball was released, and immediately raised the matter with the umpire.

Miller responded by confronting Sundar, leading to a heated argument between the two. On-field umpire Chris Gaffaney stepped in to calm proceedings, and South Africa captain Aiden Markram later joined during the drinks interval to defuse the situation. The precise trigger for the disagreement remained unclear, and the tension did not resurface. Miller was dismissed shortly afterwards, briefly offering India hope.That hope faded quickly. Stubbs delivered a strong late flourish to lift the Proteas to 187, setting India a stiff target of 188.The chase unravelled almost instantly when the in-form Ishan Kishan fell for a duck. India never recovered. Partnerships were scarce, the required rate ballooned, and wickets tumbled steadily. Bowled out for 111, India slumped to a heavy 76-run loss, damaging their net run rate and leaving their Super 8 campaign hanging in the balance.

The T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8 clash between India and South Africa in Ahmedabad saw a heavy-hitting presence in the commentary box that had nothing to do with batting averages. Sundar Pichai, the CEO of Google and Alphabet Inc., joined former India coach Ravi Shastri during the mid-innings break on Sunday to share his lifelong passion for the game.

Google CEO Sundar Pichai reveals his cricketing idol during IND vs SA Super 8 clash

Pichai, who was born in Madurai, took a nostalgic trip down memory lane, describing himself as an ardent cricket enthusiast whose childhood was defined by the legendary exploits of India’s original ‘Little Master,’ Sunil Gavaskar.

During his guest appearance on air, the 53-year-old Pichai painted a vivid picture of his upbringing in a cricket-crazy Indian household. He recounted the days of listening to crackling radio commentary for matches held in the West Indies, often surrounded by his grandfather and granduncle. Pichai revealed that his admiration for Sunil Gavaskar was so profound that it took a physical form on his bedroom walls, serving as a daily inspiration long before he became one of the most powerful figures in the global tech industry.

“Sunny (Sunil Gavaskar) was a big idol for me. I used to have the Sportstar poster on my wall. I have followed it since my very young days. I used to listen to it [commentary] on the radio for the games in the West Indies with my granddad, granduncle, and so on. I have always been into the game.” Pichai said.

The occasion was made even more significant as Pichai was given the honor of carrying the ICC T20 World Cup trophy onto the field, walking side-by-side with his childhood hero, Sunil Gavaskar. The former India captain later reflected on their warm relationship, noting that it is a unique experience to meet a fan who has achieved such staggering international success. As per India Today, Gavaskar shared that during their walk to the pitch, both men shared a common hope, that India’s current stars would eventually lift the silverware at the end of the tournament.

“Well, I’ve met him before. Earlier on, he had told me about having my posters in his bedroom. It always feels nice to meet somebody who’s been a fan of yours, a well-wisher, and someone who has done so well in his career and achieved so much in the tech world. As we were walking out with the World Cup trophy, we both said we hoped Suryakumar Yadav would get his hands on it on the 8th. And I’m sure we’re both praying that happens.” Gavaskar said.

Sundar Pichai🎙️

Sunil Gavaskar was his childhood idol and that he has followed cricket since a young age. He shared this during a mid innings chat with Ravi Shastri in the India vs South Africa Super 8 match.

Earlier, Pichai and Gavaskar unveiled the T20 World Cup trophy… pic.twitter.com/ZqHuABReHh

— .🫟 (@MaxCrik8) February 22, 2026

Also READ: T20 World Cup 2026: R Ashwin points out India’s two key mistakes after Super 8 defeat to South Africa

Sundar Pichai witnessed the Ahmedabad clash along with ICC chairman Jay Shah

After his stint on the microphone, Pichai joined ICC Chairman Jay Shah in the stands to witness what turned out to be a sobering night for Indian cricket fans. While the tech giant enjoyed the spectacle as part of Google’s association with the tournament, the action on the field favoured the visitors. David Miller (63) and Dewald Brevis (45) powered South Africa to a formidable 187/7, while India’s batting lineup ‘stumbled; under the pressure of the chase. Despite the star-studded support in the pavilion, India was bundled out for 111, handing the Proteas a massive 76-run victory and leaving the hosts with a mountainous task in their remaining Super 8 fixtures.

Also READ: After defeat against South Africa, India coach explains why Washington Sundar got the nod over Axar Patel

NEW DELHI: For Lungi Ngidi, the key moment in his growth as a T20 bowler did not arrive on the international stage but during a formative stint in the IPL nets.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!The 2018 season with Chennai Super Kings offered him limited game time, yet it proved pivotal. Spending long hours training alongside Dwayne Bravo, Ngidi worked extensively on his slower deliveries — a skill that would later become a defining feature of his T20 bowling.

Against India in the T20 World Cup on Sunday, Ngidi returned impressive figures of 0 for 15 in four overs, including 10 dot balls. He once again relied on subtle variations and clever changes of pace, frequently alternating between wide yorkers and cutters. Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav struggled to read him, often setting up for an anticipated off-cutter only to be surprised by a different variation.Recalling his transformation, Ngidi said: “Like I’ve always said, I was at the IPL in 2018 with Bravo, and that entire IPL, that’s all I worked on. I wasn’t playing, so I got time to practice it. And then when I got back to South Africa, I just tried to perfect that ball.”He acknowledged that mastering change-ups required patience.“Whether it’s a slow ball yorker, or back of length or slow ball bouncer. So three different lengths with the same ball. I guess you’ve got to guess which one’s coming next,” he said.Ngidi believes staying under the radar benefits him.“I think probably just flying under the radar. So not many people pay attention to me. But I guess that helps me in terms of being able to us all these variations,” he said.Detailing his strategy against India, he added, “And then tonight, I used my leg cutter because I know that they’re obviously probably preparing for just an off-cutter. I could see Surya set up as well, looking to sort of just lift it over the leg side.“So just to show him something different, keep him guessing. And that seemed to work pretty well.”For Ngidi, the focus was on pressure rather than wickets.“But I guess just looking at the scoreboard and seeing their position, I kind of knew what I had to do. It was pretty much more build pressure than try to be greedy and put my name up in the wickets column. So, yeah, using that tactic, I guess it worked off pretty well tonight,” he said.He feels the slower ball gives him an edge in modern T20 cricket.“But I think having my slower ball gives me the upper hand in terms of batsmen can’t just swing every ball. We’ve seen that a bit in the power play. So once you have to think, I think that’s where I come into the game.”Ultimately, Ngidi aims to create doubt.“Once you start second-guessing your options, I think that’s what a bowler really wants in the end.“And then all of a sudden, once the pressure’s building, I don’t think they have an answer for what I’m about to deliver next. So it kind of works in my favour that nobody really thinks about me,” Ngidi added.