5 Players Who Let India Down Against South Africa in T20 World Cup 2026

India suffered a heavy 76-run defeat against South Africa in their Super-8 opener of the T20 World Cup 2026. The match, played at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, saw several Indian players fail under pressure, handing South Africa a dominant victory.

Batting first on a challenging wicket, South Africa posted 187 runs. India’s response fell flat as the team was bowled out for just 111 runs. Here are the five key players who struggled in this crucial encounter:

1. Abhishek Sharma

Abhishek Sharma, who had failed to open his account in the first three matches of the tournament, showed little improvement. Though he hit a boundary on the first ball, he struggled to find rhythm, scoring just 15 runs off 12 balls, including 8 dot balls.

2. Varun Chakravarthy

India’s premier spinner, Varun Chakravarthy, was expected to take charge in the Super-8 match but failed to make an impact. He conceded 45 runs in his 4-over spell. With South Africa at 20/3 early, he had a perfect opportunity to build pressure but could not deliver.

3. Tilak Varma

Tilak Varma continued his struggle with the bat in the T20 World Cup. He managed only 1 run off 2 balls in this game. His T20I average, which was 49.29 before the tournament, has now fallen below 45.

4. Hardik Pandya

Hardik Pandya had a forgettable game with both bat and ball. He gave away 45 runs in his 4 overs, including 20 runs in the final over, helping South Africa reach 187. With the bat, he scored just 18 runs off 17 balls, failing to ignite the innings.

5. Washington Sundar

Washington Sundar was included in the playing XI ahead of Axar Patel but failed to trouble the South African batsmen. He conceded 17 runs in 2 overs and managed just 11 runs off 11 balls while batting at number five.

India now faces a crucial challenge in their next Super-8 game, needing strong performances to stay alive in the tournament.