It was a little surprising decision from South Africa’s captain, Aiden Markram, after he won the toss and decided to bat first on a pitch that he claimed would remain the same throughout the game against India at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad during the Super 8 clash of the T20 World Cup 2026. 

Aiden Markram’s decision did not go in their favor as they lost three wickets inside the first 4 overs of the innings and found themselves under massive pressure in putting a strong score on the board against the strong and long batting lineup of the Blue Brigade. The captain was dismissed for the fifth time in T20, iced by the left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh.

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Having gone through a couple of dry overs to start the innings, Markram decided to release the pressure with a big shot as he smashed the overpitch delivery down the ground and picked out the man at mid-off. He wanted to use the bottom hand to generate power and clear the fence, but got it off the toe end of the blade.

Arshdeep Singh dismisses Aiden Markram for 4 in T20 WC 2026 Super 8

Earlier in the game, Jasprit Bumrah, after being smashed for a boundary, drew the first blood with the wicket of Quinton de Kock. There was no fate movement from the wicket keeper opening, battered as he tried to slog a ball as it nipped back and castled into the stumps of the southpaw.

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Ryan Rickelton smashed a fine six against the half-pitch delivery of Arshdeep behind the stumps. But he couldn’t spend time in the middle either, as Bumrah foxed him with a slower delivery. The left-handed batter was early into the lofted shot and ended up chipping to the fielder. The home boy’s figures read 2/7 in two overs in the power play.

David Miller played some sensational shots against Ardeep Singh, including two boundaries to steady the ship of the Proteas as they ended up with 41 runs for the loss of three wickets in six overs.

Brief Scores: SA 74/3 (David Miller 33*, Jasprit Bumrah 2/7) vs India.