AHMEDABAD: Defending T20 World Cup champions India need “two big performances” to reach the semi-finals after Sunday’s huge defeat to South Africa, said their assistant coach. India came into the T20 World Cup as hot favourites on home soil but were thrashed by 76 runs in the Super Eights as 80,000 fans at the massive Narendra Modi stadium were stunned into silence. In their first chase of the tournament, India’s batting came up woefully short in the face of some disciplined South Africa bowling. India collapsed to 111 all out in 18.5 overs in response to South Africa’s 187-7 as their 12-match win streak in the T20 World Cup came to a crashing end. The magnitude of the defeat has left India with a desperate net run-rate of -3.8 and likely needing to win their last two Super Eight matches convincingly to make it to the semi-finals. Anything less and India will need to rely on a combination of other results going their way. “Very disappointed in the performance,” said Ryan ten Doeschate. “When you set out to win a World Cup, don’t expect someone to come and deliver it to you halfway through,” the assistant coach added. “We’ve messed up on a grand scale and now the onus is on this group of guys to turn it around and put in two solid performances.” India are grouped with South Africa, the West Indies and Zimbabwe in Super Eights, with the top two advancing to the semi-finals. The West Indies face Zimbabwe on Monday night in Mumbai in their Super Eights opener. India next face giant-killers Zimbabwe, who have already beaten Australia and Sri Lanka, on Thursday in Chennai. South Africa play the West Indies the same day in Ahmedabad, where Aiden Markram’s side could put one foot firmly in the semi-finals with another win. ‘Cloak came off’ “Obviously, with the way the group goes, you need at least four points to get through now, and it’s going to need two big performances and a big bounce back from everyone,” said Ten Doeschate. Indias captain Suryakumar Yadav reacts after being hit by the ball during the 2026 ICC Mens T20 Cricket World Cup Super Eights match between India and South Africa at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on February 22, 2026. — AFP India’s captain Suryakumar Yadav reacts after being hit by the ball during the 2026 ICC Men’s T20 Cricket World Cup Super Eights match between India and South Africa at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on February 22, 2026. — AFP India’s fragile batting was exposed against an in-form bowling attack led by left-arm quick Marco Jansen, who returned figures of 4-22 from 3.5 overs. Keshav Maharaj took 3-24 with his left-arm spin. India´s media tore into the team on Monday morning. “The night the cloak came off,” blazed a headline in the Indian Express newspaper. “Sloppy India reach point of no return,” said the Hindustan Times. India’s ultra-aggressive left-handed opening pair have failed to fire, leaving a shaky middle order to pick up the pieces. Ishan Kishan was out without scoring to Markram on Sunday, while the world’s top- ranked T20 batter Abhishek Sharma fell to Jansen for 15, his only runs of the tournament so far after three ducks. “It’s certainly not panic stations,” said Ten Doeschate, who hinted there could be discussions about India’s batting line-up. “If those guys (Ahbishek and Ishan) bat for six overs, the score is going to be 70-plus,” said Ten Doeschate. “So can we get them to temper the way they’re playing and be a little bit smarter? “Or do we just let them go on the way they are? “Or do we bring in a right-hander at the top and make a change somewhere in the middle?” Captain Suryakumar Yadav agreed India need to use their brains in the first six-over power play when only two fielders are allowed on the boundary. “Chasing 180-185, you can’t win the game in the power play, but you might lose it,” he said after his side stumbled to 31-3 after six overs, which became 43-4 a few balls later and then 51-5. “We lost too many wickets in the power play.” The 2024 champions also have the weight of history against them. No team has ever retained the T20 World Cup and no side have ever won the trophy on home soil.

AHMEDABAD: Defending T20 World Cup champions India are under immense pressure after suffering a crushing 76-run defeat against South Africa in the Super Eights stage on Sunday. Assistant coach Ryan ten Doeschate described the loss as a “grand-scale mess” and stressed that India will need “two big performances” in their remaining matches to stay in contention for the semi-finals.

Crushing Defeat and Net Run-Rate Woes

India, hot favourites on home soil, were bowled out for just 111 in 18.5 overs while chasing South Africa’s 187-7 at the Narendra Modi Stadium, leaving their net run-rate at a perilous -3.8. The defeat also ended India’s 12-match winning streak in T20 World Cups.

Ten Doeschate acknowledged the team’s disappointment, saying, “Very disappointed in the performance. We’ve messed up on a grand scale and now the onus is on this group of guys to turn it around and put in two solid performances.”

Upcoming Matches Crucial

India are in a group with South Africa, West Indies, and Zimbabwe, with the top two teams advancing to the semi-finals. India’s next match is against Zimbabwe on Thursday in Chennai. Zimbabwe, already giant-killers of Australia and Sri Lanka, pose a significant threat. Meanwhile, South Africa face West Indies on the same day in Ahmedabad, where a win could secure their semi-final spot.

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Ten Doeschate stressed that India will need “at least four points to get through now, and it’s going to need two big performances and a big bounce back from everyone.”

Batting Fragility Exposed

India’s batting woes were laid bare by a disciplined South African attack. Marco Jansen led with 4-22 in 3.5 overs, while Keshav Maharaj claimed 3-24 with spin. Star batters struggled: Ishan Kishan was dismissed for a duck, and Abhishek Sharma, the world’s top-ranked T20 batter, managed only 15 runs in the match after three previous ducks.

Captain Suryakumar Yadav admitted that poor shot selection during the first six-over power play contributed heavily to the collapse. India were 31-3 after six overs, later sliding to 51-5, making recovery extremely challenging.

Historical Pressure

India also face a historical hurdle: no team has ever retained the T20 World Cup, and no side has ever won the trophy on home soil. Headlines in Indian media reflected the shock: “The night the cloak came off” (Indian Express) and “Sloppy India reach point of no return” (Hindustan Times).

With their Super Eights campaign hanging by a thread, India must rethink strategy and deliver two convincing wins to remain in the tournament.