India’s crushing 76-run defeat to the South Africa national cricket team in the Super 8 stage of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 has sparked strong reactions from former cricketers, and ex-Proteas captain Shaun Pollock believes the hosts simply failed to adapt to the conditions in Ahmedabad. According to Pollock, India’s aggressive approach backfired because they did not respect the early challenge posed by the moving new ball.
India’s 12-match unbeaten streak in the tournament came to an abrupt end at the Narendra Modi Stadium, where South Africa produced a composed performance with both bat and ball. Interestingly, India started the game on the front foot thanks to a fiery spell from Jasprit Bumrah, who rattled the opposition with figures of 2 for 7 early in the innings. However, the momentum shifted dramatically once David Miller and Dewald Brevis joined forces.
The duo stitched together a rapid 97-run partnership off just 51 deliveries, rebuilding the innings after early setbacks. Later, Tristan Stubbs delivered the finishing touch with an unbeaten 44 off 24 balls, powering South Africa to a formidable total of 187. Speaking after the match, Pollock explained that South Africa’s familiarity with the venue played a key role in their success.
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“They 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.”
India’s reply never truly gathered momentum. The defending champions were under pressure almost immediately, slipping to 31/3 inside the powerplay. The early dismissals exposed India’s rigid batting strategy, which Pollock believes lacked situational awareness.
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“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. Sometimes, you have to be smart and patient. India didn’t change their approach.”
With their net run rate dropping sharply, India now face a must-win situation against Zimbabwe and West Indies to keep their semifinal hopes alive.
