What the Proteas proved in their 76-run demolition of India in T20 World Cup Super 8 clash

SOUTH Africa’s 76-run victory over India in Ahmedabad halted the hosts’ lengthy unbeaten run, boosted the Proteas net run-rate and, in David Miller’s words, confirmed that as far as India are concerned they are not invincible.

Here’s what the Proteas took from a performance that has now made the cricketing world sit up and take notice.

1. India’s aura can be broken

India entered the clash on a 12-match T20 World Cup win streak stretching back to 2022. They had also won 17 straight games and two championships in major ICC tournaments, going 826 days without defeat.

South Africa ended that sequence in emphatic fashion, bowling India out for 111 after posting 187/7.

Miller did not overstate it, but he did not underplay it either. “It wasn't easy. Playing against India is always really difficult and they’ve got some incredible players.” Miller said. 

But then he spoke about his teammates, and how they applied themselves. “The guys bowled phenomenally well and backed it up with good fielding, so I really thought it was an all-around great performance that put them under pressure. It was good to get it over them.”

And as for India, Miller added: “They are beatable.”

That belief, at a tournament of this magnitude, truly matters.

2. Composure after early damage

The Proteas were 20/3 in the power play on a slow Ahmedabad surface. The start belonged to India.

From there, the innings required control rather than urgency, and the South Africans did not crack.

Miller and Dewald Brevis added 97 for the fourth wicket. Brevis struck 45, while Miller paced his knock to 63 off 35 balls. Tristan Stubbs then provided the late acceleration with 44 off 24 balls, including 20 in the final over, pushing South Africa to 187/7.

“It wasn't easy. Playing against India is always really difficult and they've got some incredible team and players,” Miller told reporters.

“But we’ve played a lot against them and with them as well for the IPL and when it's two big teams like that it's about making sure that you do the simple things for a longer period of time.”

There was no panic. The South Africans’ recovery was structured rather than frantic, and that shaped the contest in their favour.

3. Powerplay breakthroughs shift momentum

If Miller and Brevis rebuilt the innings and set the foundation, the bowlers tilted the match decisively.

“The guys bowled phenomenally well and backed it up with good fielding, so I really thought it was an all-around great performance that put them under pressure. It was good to get it over them. They are beatable,” Miller said.

Marco Jansen claimed 4/22, Keshav Maharaj took 3/24 and Lungi Ngidi delivered 0/15. India, batting second for the first time in the tournament, never really got going.

4. Perspective over emotion

The fixture was a rematch of the 2024 final, which India won. The nature of the victory and the winning margin might have tempted talk of revenge.

However, Lungi Ngidi kept it measured.

“Look I don't think anyone was thinking of revenge. It was a big game,” he said. “But if we lift the trophy, that's proper revenge – if you want to call it that.

“But tonight was just another game we needed to win to put ourselves in a better position to challenge for the trophy.”

The message is clear, one game at a time, not looking too far ahead than the challenge just in front of them, the Proteas are keeping focused on executing the basics as they keep the wider tournament picture in the back of their minds.

5. The job is not finished

South Africa now head Group 1 with two points and a net run-rate of 3.80. With West Indies and Zimbabwe to come, and with their impressive run rate, just one more win could be enough for them to progress.

Miller’s focus, however, remained narrow.

“I think for us in a tournament like this, it's about making sure that we do, as I said, I keep going back to the simple things and making sure that we stay in our lane as a player and do the job and get the job done,” he said.

“We're a mature team. A lot of guys have played together and a lot of cricket for South Africa and that goes a long way under pressure. So, I think it's just staying in your lane, making sure that you get the job done and keep wanting more.”

The India win changed perception for the South Africans, and maybe for the other teams in the competition. But how the teams handle the new reality, what they allow to happen in their headspace will be the key to their success in the games that lie ahead.