India beat New Zealand by 96 runs in the final at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday to become the first team to retain the men’s T20 World Cup title.

Put into bat, India posted a commanding total of 255-5, powered by a 98-run opening stand between Sanju Samson, who scored 89 runs, and Abhishek Sharma, who made 52 runs. Samson hit eight sixes and five fours in his 46-ball innings. Number three, Ishan Kishan contributed 54 runs.

In response, New Zealand was restricted to 159 runs in 19 overs, falling short of the 256 runs needed to claim their maiden T20 World Cup. James Neesham took three wickets in a single over to slow India’s scoring towards the end of the innings.

India and New Zealand will clash in the final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup today at the Narendra Modi Stadium, with the championship trophy and millions of dollars in prize money at stake.

According to Indian media, the International Cricket Council has allocated a total prize money of $13.5 million for the tournament, around 120 crore Indian rupees, which is about 20% higher than the previous edition.

Under the ICC prize structure, the winning team will receive $3 million, while the runners-up will be awarded $1.6 million.

The final also presents a historic opportunity for India, as a victory would make them the first team to win the T20 World Cup in two consecutive editions.

The match in Ahmedabad is expected to draw massive global viewership as cricket fans tune in to watch the title decider at the world’s largest cricket stadium.

Teams that reached the semi-finals but did not qualify for the final will also receive prize money.

Each semi-finalist will get $790,000, while teams that reached the Super 8 stage will receive $380,000.

Teams eliminated during the group stage will also receive $250,000, ensuring all participating teams receive a share of the prize pool.

In the previous edition of the tournament, ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, India won $2.45 million as champions while runners-up South Africa received $1.28 million.

The final is scheduled to begin at 6:30 pm today in Ahmedabad.

New Zealand will face India in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 final on Sunday, aiming to shake off their reputation as perennial runners-up in white-ball cricket.

The Black Caps have lost four previous ICC finals since 2015, including the 2025 Champions Trophy, 2021 T20 World Cup, and 2019 and 2015 ODI World Cups.

“We are consistent because we focus on our game, not the occasion,” said New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner.

“We’re not favourites, but if we do the small things well as a team, we can put ourselves in a good position. I wouldn’t mind breaking a few hearts to lift the trophy for once.”

The final will be held at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, with more than 90,000 fans expected.

New Zealand advanced after dominant wins over South Africa and England, highlighted by Finn Allen’s 33-ball century, the fastest in T20 World Cup history.

India, meanwhile, enter the final on the back of a semi-final against England and are chasing multiple milestones: becoming the first host to win a T20 World Cup, defending their title, and claiming a third championship.

Santner acknowledged the challenge of facing India’s star-studded lineup and Jasprit Bumrah, whom he called a “game-changer.”

“The way to slow them down is taking wickets and squeezing the middle overs. India will put us under pressure from the first to the 12th over,” he said.

Despite India’s semi-final concerns over Varun Chakaravarthy, Santner expects the hosts to be formidable.

New Zealand, who have never lost to India in T20 World Cups, will look to repeat history despite India’s recent 4-1 T20I series dominance at home.

“The mindset has to be the same as any other game, but in T20 cricket, it always comes down to a couple of key moments,” Santner said, emphasising New Zealand’s focus on controlling their own destiny in the final.

The best way to deal with pressure is to embrace it, India captain Suryakumar Yadav reminded his teammates ahead of Sunday’s final of the ​Twenty20 World Cup at the Narendra Modi Stadium.

India are bidding to become ‌the first team to retain the T20 World Cup title and to achieve that, they will have to deal with not just a strong New Zealand XI but also the weight of expectation from ​a cricket‑mad nation of about 1.4 billion people.

Leading the team in the final of ​a home World Cup was a “special feeling”, and Suryakumar said they were ⁠looking forward to the challenge.

“There are nerves, butterflies in the stomach, but as I ​always say — if there’s no pressure, there’s no fun,” Suryakumar told reporters on Saturday.

“I’m very ​excited. All the boys and support staff, and I’m sure all of India is excited for tomorrow.”

More than 100,000 predominantly home fans are expected to fill the world’s largest cricket stadium, where Australia famously beat ​India in the final of the 50-overs World Cup three years ago.

Expectations are mounting ​again as India also try to become the first host to win a T20 World Cup.

Suryakumar said ‌they try ⁠not to talk about cricket, and the presence of “characters” like Arshdeep Singh and Axar Patel keeps the dressing room atmosphere light.

“It’s very important to have such characters around, because when the situation is tight, you need someone to joke around in the bus and in ​the dressing room, to ​calm the dressing ⁠room,” said Suryakumar.

“We do not talk about cricket-intense situations because players, like Axar, Arshdeep, (Jasprit) Bumrah — all these people, they know what to do.

“We ​want to be very relaxed, be in the present, not think ​about what ⁠will happen in the final.”

Suryakumar said as captain, he had also resisted the temptation to be the ‘big brother’ in the dressing room and encouraged individuality.

“I feel a good team culture is ⁠very important. ​A happy team atmosphere is the key,” he added.

“Give ​them freedom, listen to their ideas as well about what they feel.

“I think it is very important to understand ​what everyone wants in the team.”

India will face England in the second semi-final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai today (Thursday).

England reached the semi-finals after finishing at the top of their Super 8 group and remained unbeaten in that stage of the tournament.

India secured the second spot in Super 8 Group 1, with their only loss coming against South Africa.

Both teams are known for their aggressive approach in T20 cricket, and the match is expected to be closely contested.

England have performed well overall in the tournament, particularly in the Super 8 round.

However, some of their key players have struggled for consistent form, and their top order has not produced steady starts.

India will look to take advantage of this, although England’s batting depth means any batter who settles at the crease could put pressure on the bowlers.

India have also faced similar challenges.

Players such as Abhishek Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma have shown flashes of form but have not been consistent throughout the tournament.

With both sides featuring strong squads, the outcome may depend on how well the teams adapt to the conditions in Mumbai and execute their strategies during the match.

South Africa captain Aiden Markram has called on his side to keep their approach simple and focused as they prepare to face the New Zealand national cricket team in the semi-final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 on Wednesday.

The Proteas head into the knockout clash in formidable form, having won all seven of their matches in the tournament so far.

Runners-up in the previous edition, South Africa have claimed 15 victories in their last 16 T20 World Cup matches, strengthening their status as one of the favourites for the title.

However, Markram dismissed talk of favouritism ahead of the last-four encounter.

“With regards to being favourites or not, that’s all different people’s opinions,” he said on the eve of the match.

“For us as a team, we really just try to focus on putting good games of cricket together and playing that exciting brand that we’ve been trying to play over the last 18 months.”

He added that the team would not deviate from the formula that has brought them success so far.

“We are not trying to do anything different tomorrow. Keep hammering away at the things that we have done well and that have got us here.”

South Africa secured a seven-wicket win over New Zealand during the group stage in Ahmedabad, but Markram cautioned against reading too much into that result.

“I wish cricket were that easy. New Zealand are a quality team. They’ve proved that over many years now. It’s a completely fresh start tomorrow,” he said, describing the semi-final as an exciting opportunity for his side.

The match will be played at Eden Gardens, where South Africa have not featured in a T20 International before.

The Proteas played five of their seven matches at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad earlier in the tournament.

Despite the change in venue, Markram expressed confidence in his team’s ability to adapt to conditions.

“We have got a lot of good experience in the group. Quinny reads conditions really well from behind the stumps, and that makes a massive difference for us,” he said, referring to wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock.

South Africa will be aiming to make a winning debut at Eden Gardens in the shortest format as they seek a place in the T20 World Cup final.

The West Indies and Zimbabwe teams said on Monday they have delayed their return ​from India after their exit from the ‌Twenty20 World Cup due to international airspace closures amid ongoing conflict in the Middle East.

West Indies failed to reach the semi-finals after Sunday’s five-wicket loss to hosts India, while Zimbabwe were eliminated after losing all three of their Super Eights matches.

However, neither team could travel back as ​thousands of flights were cancelled in countries across the Gulf, disrupting some of the world’s busiest transit hubs, as conflict ​escalated between Iran and the US and Israel.

“The ​Zimbabwe men’s team remains safe and well in India… the ‌squad ⁠was scheduled to return home via Dubai,” Zimbabwe Cricket said in a social media post.

Cricket West Indies (CWI) said they were working with the sport’s global body (ICC) to make safe travel arrangements for the players and staff.

The ICC, headquartered in ​Dubai, earlier said that it had activated ​contingency ⁠plans for its personnel, who were scheduled to transit through Dubai for onward travel to their ⁠home countries.

“The ​safety and well-being of ​our players, coaches, and officials remain our highest priority,” CWI added.

South Africa has hardly put a foot wrong in their march to the Twenty20 World Cup semi-finals, but complacency can have no place against a New Zealand side famed for punching above their weight when the teams meet at Eden Gardens on Wednesday.

The Proteas are the tournament’s only unbeaten side and look a far more rounded T20 unit than the one that fell at the last hurdle in 2024. They beat New Zealand in the group stage and have earned the favourites’ tag that rested with defending champions India before the start of the tournament.

India face England in the other semi-final on Thursday.

“I’m glad that we’re favourites, because I’ve always felt that as a South African team you want to be able to play as a favourite,” head coach Shukri Conrad said, suggesting they were enjoying the spotlight.

Since surviving a double Super Over against Afghanistan, Aiden Markram’s side have not taken their foot off the pedal.

In Quinton de Kock, Markram and Ryan Rickelton field a top order capable of banking a powerplay head-start, with an explosive middle order offering little respite when the openers do not fire.

South Africa complements it with a varied bowling attack.

Kagiso Rabada’s hard, test-match lengths and Marco Jansen’s left‑arm bounce have cramped batters, while Lungi Ngidi’s change-ups have been a revelation across phases.

Left‑arm spinner Keshav Maharaj provides control if conditions grip, with Markram holding himself back for match‑ups.

Knockout stage challenge

South Africa has looked ominous so far, but the knockout stage brings its own challenge. Besides, New Zealand can be a tricky opponent.

New Zealand opener Finn Allen’s ultra-aggression is often the powerplay disruptor alongside a rotating partner - Devon Conway or Tim Seifert.

All-rounder Rachin Ravindra’s ability to change gears sets a platform for Glenn Phillips and Daryl Mitchell to attack the back end.

Their pace attack does not have a settled look, though.

The Black Caps are likely to miss the services of fast bowler Matt Henry, who is back home on paternity leave. Jacob Duffy or Kyle Jamieson could replace him.

Their spin unit looks well covered, however.

Captain Mitchell Santner’s stump‑to‑stump trajectory is a key match‑up against de Kock and Markram, and Ish Sodhi’s leg-spin could trouble South Africa’s right‑hand middle.

“We faced them in Ahmedabad, which I think is a venue that they’ve grown pretty used to, given that they’ve spent a fair bit of time there,” New Zealand’s head coach Rob Walter said.

“The semi‑finals will be in a different venue. It will provide a different challenge.”

South Africa thumped Zimbabwe by five wickets in a Super Eights dead rubber to maintain their unbeaten run and set up a semi-final clash against New Zealand at the Twenty20 World Cup on Sunday.

The 2024 runners-up chased down a target of 154 with 13 balls to spare to remain the only unbeaten side in this year’s 20-team tournament.

Having already qualified for the semi-finals, South Africa rested speedsters Kagiso Rabada and Marco Jansen and spinner Keshav Maharaj and still restricted Zimbabwe to 153-7 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium.

Zimbabwe skipper Sikandar Raza smashed 73 and returned to claim 3-29, but even his all-round brilliance was not enough to halt the South African juggernaut.

“Nice to get the win,” South Africa captain Aiden Markram said.

“It can be quite tricky when you change the team a bit.

“Obviously, with the bat, I’d have loved it to be more clinical, but probably not the worst thing that the middle order was put under a little bit of pressure and came through.”

South Africa began with George Linde’s left-arm spin following Raza’s decision to bat after winning the toss.

Zimbabwe’s top order struggled, but Raza counter-attacked spectacularly and raced to a 29-ball fifty.

Raza clobbered four sixes and eight fours in his 43-ball blitz before falling to Kwena Maphaka.

Clive Madande made 26 not out down the order, but Zimbabwe still settled for a below-par total.

Raza did not throw in the towel, however, and led Zimbabwe’s fightback with the ball.

Armed with the new ball, the off-spinner dismissed Quinton de Kock and rival captain Markram in successive overs to jolt South Africa out of any sense of complacency.

Ryan Rickelton smacked four sixes in his 31, but Zimbabwe struck just when a partnership was about to bloom.

Likewise, Dewald Brevis (42) threatened to run away with the game, but Raza returned to dismiss the batter to keep Zimbabwe alive in the contest.

Tristan Stubbs (21) and Linde (30) combined in an unbroken stand of 53 to guide South Africa to victory.

“I’ve never got a man-of-the-match (award) after losing a game, but I think I can hold my head high,” Raza said.

“We took a bit of beating in the previous two games, but with each beating came a valuable lesson.

“We have improved with every game that we have played. At least we now have a taste of what needs to be done for us to be a mid-table team.”

Pakistan cricket team captain Salman Ali Agha has accepted responsibility for the team’s failure to reach the semi-finals of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.

Speaking at a press conference in Kandy, Sri Lanka, he said the team underperformed throughout the tournament and struggled to make decisions under pressure.

He added that both the captain and the coach would take responsibility for the defeat, noting that the selection and playing eleven were decided jointly.

The captain said the team selected the playing eleven based on conditions and discussed combinations with the coach. He stated that apart from Sahibzada Farhan, other batters did not perform consistently.

Salman Ali Agha said any decision regarding his captaincy at this stage would be emotional and that he would take a few days before deciding on his future.

He acknowledged Fakhar Zaman’s strong performance and said the team needed similar batting in the power play.

He added that planning for qualification to the semi-finals was discussed in advance, and selection decisions were based on earlier form.

Pakistan’s campaign ended in the Super 8 stage despite a five-run victory over Sri Lanka in a high-scoring match.

Pakistan posted 212 runs for eight wickets in 20 overs, while Sri Lanka finished on 207 runs.

However, Pakistan needed to restrict Sri Lanka to 147 or fewer to qualify for the semi-finals, which they were unable to do.

As a result, Pakistan were eliminated from the tournament.

Pakistan beat Sri Lanka by five runs in a tense Super 8 contest of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup, but the narrow victory was not enough to keep them in the tournament.

Batting first at Kandy, Pakistan piled up 212 for 8 after Sri Lanka won the toss and chose to field. The hosts replied with 207 for 6.

Opener Sahibzada Farhan led the charge with his second century of the tournament, reaching the landmark in 58 balls.

He added a record 176-run opening partnership with Fakhar Zaman, the highest opening stand in T20 World Cup history. Fakhar struck a rapid 84 off 42 deliveries.

In the chase, Abrar Ahmed spearheaded Pakistan’s bowling with 3 for 23, while Naseem Shah claimed one wicket.

Mohammad Nawaz and Shaheen Shah Afridi chipped in with a wicket apiece.

Sri Lanka’s resistance came late. Captain Dasun Shanaka blasted an unbeaten 76 off 31 balls, sharing a brisk 61-run stand for the sixth wicket with Rathnayake, who made 58 off 37 with four fours and three sixes.

Kamil Mishara (26) and Charith Asalanka (25) were the only other batters to reach double figures.

Afridi held his nerve in the final over, successfully defending 28 despite conceding three sixes, to seal the win.

However, Pakistan were eliminated as they needed to restrict Sri Lanka to 147 or fewer to progress.

New Zealand advanced to the semi-finals from the group, while England had already qualified.

Sri Lanka were also knocked out.

Pakistan will take on Sri Lanka today (Saturday) in their final Super Eight match of the T20 World Cup in Pallekele, knowing that only a win will keep their hopes of reaching the semi-finals alive.

The match will start at 6.30pm Pakistan time.

Pakistan are currently on one point in Group 2 and have a net run rate of -0.461.

After England defeated New Zealand, Pakistan were given a slim chance to qualify.

However, to move ahead of New Zealand on net run rate, Pakistan will need to beat Sri Lanka by more than 65 runs if batting first.

If chasing, they must reach the target in around 13 overs. The exact equation will depend on the first innings total.

So far in the tournament, Pakistan have not recorded a win of that scale.

Their batting has struggled to score quickly in the middle overs, and the team has lacked big finishes.

They will need a much stronger overall performance today.

Sri Lanka, led by Dasun Shanaka, have already been eliminated from the tournament after losses to England and New Zealand in the Super Eight stage.

They will be playing only for pride in their final match.

If Pakistan manage to secure a big win, they could still qualify for the semi-finals.

Otherwise, their campaign in the tournament will come to an end.

South Africa strengthened their place in the T20 World Cup semi-finals with a dominant nine-wicket win over West Indies in a Super Eight clash at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Thursday.

Electing to field first, South Africa quickly put the West Indies under pressure, reducing them to 83 runs for seven.

Jason Holder and Romario Shepherd staged a late revival, putting on a record eighth-wicket partnership of 89 runs.

Shepherd remained unbeaten on 52 runs, while Holder was run out for 49 runs in the final over, taking the West Indies total to 176 runs for the loss of eight wickets.

The partnership set a new record for the highest eighth-wicket stand by a full member nation in T20 Internationals, surpassing Scotland’s previous mark of 80 runs.

Lungi Ngidi led South Africa’s bowling with three wickets for 30 runs, while Kagiso Rabada and Corbin Bosch took two each.

Chasing 177 runs, South Africa’s batter dominated from the outset, scoring 69 runs without loss in the powerplay.

Quinton de Kock was the only wicket to fall, dismissed for 45, while captain Aiden Markram struck an unbeaten 82.

Ryan Rickleton remained 45 not out as the Proteas reached their target in the seventeenth over.

The victory keeps South Africa undefeated in the tournament and boosts their semi-final prospects.

West Indies, who defeated Zimbabwe in their previous game, will face India on Sunday for a chance to progress, while India takes on Zimbabwe later on Thursday.

Sri Lanka captain Dasun Shanaka said the relentless criticism aimed at his players has been damaging to their mental health and undermined their efforts at the Twenty20 World Cup, where they were eliminated from the group stage on Wednesday.

The tournament co-hosts drew heavy flak from fans and pundits for their shaky buildup to the World Cup, which included losing five of six limited-overs matches to England.

The 2014 champions suffered a second successive Super Eights defeat on Wednesday, with New Zealand scoring a comprehensive victory to knock them out of the tournament.

Shanaka apologised to fans after their ‘embarrassing’ performance, but also felt an atmosphere of negativity had reached an extent where the authorities must intervene.

“No matter how we as cricketers try to stay positive, there is negativity outside,” Shanaka told reporters after their defeat in Colombo.

“We will play and leave, but for the players who will come in the future, if the government can even stop it, that’s better for their mental health.”

Chasing 169 for victory, Sri Lanka were 46-5 in the 11th over and never looked like recovering.

“Honestly, we are very sorry for what happened. No one goes out there to fail; everyone goes with the intention of playing well and winning for the team,” said Shanaka.

Losing the services of three key bowlers — Wanindu Hasaranga, Matheesha Pathirana and Ehsan Malinga — through injuries was a major setback.

“You’ve also got to make fitness a non-negotiable,” he said.

“When you have the number of injuries we’ve had, it’s hard to get a good outcome.

“Your fitness level influences your injuries. Some players can’t even get into the team because of fitness issues. That’s something we’ve talked about a lot over several World Cups now,” he added.

Former captain Kumar Sangakkara said Sri Lanka was in danger of becoming irrelevant in the cricket world.

“There is a lot of work to be done at all levels to course correct,” he wrote on X.

“We can’t do the same things over and over and expect different results when the cricket world around us has evolved so quickly. We haven’t adapted, and the danger is irrelevance.”

Sri Lanka face New Zealand in a crucial Super Eight match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo on Wednesday, with both teams under pressure to keep their semi-final hopes alive.

Sri Lanka, co-hosts of the tournament, enter the contest in “win-or-bust” territory after a disappointing Super Eight opener.

The home side’s batting, which had shown promise earlier in the event, faltered in a heavy loss to England, exposing persistent inconsistencies at the top of the order.

The Black Caps hold a superior overall head-to-head record in T20 internationals against Sri Lanka and arrive with confidence in their balanced batting unit built around the likes of Tim Seifert and Glenn Phillips.

Sri Lanka must overturn recent batting frailties to stay alive in the tournament, while New Zealand will look to exploit those weaknesses and gain the upper hand in the group standings.

Sri Lanka’s squad:

Captain Dasun Shanaka, Charith Asalanka, Dushmantha Chameera, Dushan Hemantha, Janith Liyanage, Dilshan Madushanka, Kamindu Mendis, Kusal Mendis, Kamil Mishara, Pathum Nissanka, Kusal Perera, Pramod Madushan, Pavan Rathnayake, Maheesh Theekshana, Dunith Wellalage.

New Zealand’s squad:

Captain Mitchell Santner, Finn Allen, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Kyle Jamieson, Cole McConchie, Daryl Mitchell, James Neesham, Glenn Philips, Rachin Ravindra, Tim Seifert, Ish Sodhi.

The tickets for the semifinals and final of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 went on sale on Tuesday.

Fans will be able to secure seats for the first semi-final on March 4, the second semi-final on 5 March and the final on March 8, said a press release.

The semifinal 1 remains a floating venue arrangement with the match to be held either at the R Premadasa Stadium in Colombo or the Eden Gardens in Kolkata, while semifinal 2 will take place at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai.

If Pakistan qualify for the semifinals, they will play in semifinal 1 in Colombo on March 4.

If Pakistan do not qualify for the semifinals, but Sri Lanka qualify and play anyone other than India, then Sri Lanka will play in semifinal 1 in Colombo.

If neither of those applies, or if India are drawn against Sri Lanka, then semifinal 1 will be played in Kolkata on the same date.

If Pakistan reach the final it will be played in Colombo; otherwise it will be played in Ahmedabad.

Should tickets be purchased for a venue that doesn’t end up hosting either semifinal 1 or the final, these will be refunded to the ticket-holder.

Pakistan will play their second match of the T20 Super Eight against England in Kandy on Tuesday, needing a victory to avoid the other side, opening batter Sahibzada Farhan said.

“Everyone in batting will have to take responsibility. It’s not that the openers have done nothing, so they should surrender. Hopefully, we will give England a tough time,” Farhan said.

Farhan added that there was no problem in facing England pacer Jofra Archer and said Pakistan would rely on their spinners to challenge the English side.

India captain Suryakumar Yadav remains optimistic his side can recover from their heavy defeat to South Africa and secure a place in the knockout stages of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.

India suffered their first loss of the tournament on Sunday, ending a 12-match winning streak, as South Africa triumphed by 76 runs.

The defeat has left India with a challenging task to defend the title they won in 2024 in Barbados.

Now, to secure a semi-final spot, India need victories in their remaining Super Eight fixtures against Zimbabwe and the West Indies.

A single win could also suffice, provided South Africa remains unbeaten in the phase.

India’s next challenge comes against Zimbabwe in Chennai on Thursday.

Suryakumar, however, is confident that his team does not need to make significant changes to return to winning ways.

“Hopefully bat well, bowl well and field well,” Suryakumar said simply when asked what India needs to focus on for the rest of the tournament.

“That’s it. We’ll try and keep it simple. Play the same brand of cricket which we want to play, and nothing changes. I think we’ll come back strong.”

Despite the setback, India do not expect to alter their approach too much, although one concern is the form of opening batter Abhishek Sharma, the No. 1 ranked T20I batter.

Sharma fell cheaply for just 14 runs against South Africa and was one of three players dismissed in the Powerplay.

India’s chase of South Africa’s total of 187/7 faltered early due to the loss of wickets, with Suryakumar acknowledging the importance of partnerships in the chase.

“Sometimes you’ve got to think, if you’re chasing 180-185, you can’t win the game in the Powerplay, but you might lose the game in the Powerplay,” Suryakumar reflected.

“We lost too many wickets in the Powerplay, and then we couldn’t have small partnerships, which we wanted to have for chasing 180-185.”

Despite the defeat, Suryakumar remained hopeful, saying, “But that’s part of the game. We learnt it, we’ll sit back and then come back stronger.”

On the other hand, South Africa’s David Miller was the star of the match, contributing an impressive 63 runs off 35 balls to help his team set a formidable total.

Miller’s performance earned him the Player of the Match award and gave South Africa a perfect start to the Super Eights phase.

Miller, confident in his team’s prospects, expressed belief that South Africa could go one step further than their runners-up finish in the 2024 T20 World Cup.

“Today proves that they (India) are beatable,” Miller said after the match.

Miller highlighted the maturity of the South African squad, many of whom have played extensive international cricket together.

“It’s about making sure that we do, as I said, the simple things and stay in our lane as a player to get the job done,” he added. “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.”

Zimbabwe will face the West Indies in the Super Eight stage of the ICC T20 World Cup today (Monday) in Wankhede stadium, Mumbai.

The match — a tussle between two in-form teams — will start at 6.30pm.

Two years after failing to qualify for the T20 World Cup, Zimbabwe has made a remarkable comeback, entering the Super Eights unbeaten.

Their successful run has included standout performances from Blessing Muzarabani, who impressed with the ball in a victory over Australia, and their top four batsmen, who chased down 189 against Sri Lanka.

Key contributions from Brian Bennett, with his fifties, and Sikandar Raza’s quick cameos have also been pivotal to their success.

Muzarabani and Brad Evans, both among the top-ten wicket-takers in the tournament, have been integral to Zimbabwe’s progress.

Now, they will face a tough challenge against the West Indies in Mumbai, where they must quickly adapt to the change in conditions after playing all their group matches in Sri Lanka.

The West Indies, also unbeaten in the Super Eights, boast a strong batting lineup, with in-form Shai Hope and a rejuvenated Shimron Hetmyer at No. 3, along with a reliable finisher in Sherfane Rutherford.

Additionally, their team is bolstered by as many as three all-rounders, and Romario Shepherd, expected to return from injury, adds further depth to their options.

This flexibility allows them to field a potent mix of three fast bowlers and three spinners — ideal for the conditions in Mumbai, where both quicks (35 wickets) and spinners (34 wickets) have been equally effective this tournament.

This match will be crucial for both sides as they aim to secure a strong position on the points table ahead of their upcoming fixtures against India and South Africa.

South Africa thrashed India by 76 runs in the third match of the Super Eight stage of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 on Sunday.

Batting first at the Narendra Modi Stadium, South Africa posted 187 runs for seven wickets in their 20 overs. India, chasing 188 runs, were bowled out for 111 runs in the 19th over.

After losing three early wickets for 20 runs, South Africa’s David Miller and Dewald Brewis stitched a 97-run partnership for the fourth wicket.

Miller top-scored with 63 runs off 35 balls, including three sixes and seven fours, while Brewis made 45 runs.

Tristan Stubbs remained unbeaten on 44 runs. Other contributions included Ryan Rickleton’s seven runs, Quinton de Kock’s six runs, captain Aiden Markram’s four runs, and Marco Jensen’s two runs.

For India, Jasprit Bumrah claimed three wickets for 15 runs, Arshdeep Singh took two, and Varun Chakravarthy and Shivam Dube took one each.

South African captain Aiden Markram, who won the toss and opted to bat, said the pitch was “very good for batting” and aimed to put pressure on India with a big total.

Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav said his side would have chosen to bat first if they had won the toss and confirmed no changes to the team.

Rain could play spoilsport in the Super 8 encounter between Pakistan and New Zealand at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, scheduled to be held on February 21 in Colombo.

The two sides will meet at the R. Premadasa Stadium as the Super 8 stage gets underway.

Cricket observers expect a closely fought contest, given the competitive history between the teams in recent years.

Since January 2022, Pakistan and New Zealand have faced each other 24 times in T20 Internationals. New Zealand have won 13 matches, while Pakistan have claimed nine victories.

Notably, Pakistan defeated New Zealand in the semi-final of the 2022 T20 World Cup in Sydney — a landmark win for the Green Shirts.

In the ongoing tournament, both teams have shown inconsistency. New Zealand finished second in their group after losing to South Africa, while Pakistan secured second place in their group following a defeat to India.

New Zealand, led by Mitchell Santner, will rely heavily on their bowling attack featuring Matt Henry, Jacob Duffy and Santner.

Pakistan, under Salman Ali Agha, will look to address batting concerns, with in-form opener Sahibzada Farhan expected to provide a strong start.

According to weather forecasts cited by Indian outlet News18, there is a 74 per cent chance of rain in Colombo on match day, particularly around 7:00 p.m. local time. Early overs could be affected, and a delayed start is possible if conditions deteriorate.

Strong winds are also forecast, with temperatures expected to range between 24 and 26 degrees Celsius and humidity levels above 80 per cent.

Under ICC regulations, there is no reserve day for Super 8 matches. If rain prevents both teams from completing at least five overs per innings, the match will be abandoned, and each side will be awarded one point.

The Super Eight stage of the T20 World Cup begins on Saturday, with Pakistan and New Zealand facing off at the R. Premadasa Stadium in Colombo.

The match is scheduled to start at 6:30 pm local time. Both teams won three matches each in the initial group stage to advance.

Pakistan finished second in Group A, while New Zealand secured second place in Group D.

The Super Eight stage pits eight strong teams against each other, with every match having potential implications for the semi-final race.

Pakistan is expected to make two changes to its lineup. Opener Fakhar Zaman may return, and spinner Abrar Ahmed could be included to bolster the middle overs.

Experts say Pakistan will need cautious but positive batting in the early overs to maximise the power play, with a responsible middle-order performance crucial.

Fast bowlers Shaheen Afridi and Naseem Shah are expected to take early wickets, while spinners Shadab Khan and Abrar Ahmed could play a key role on the spin-friendly Colombo pitch.

Cricket fans are closely watching the match, which could significantly affect the Super Eight points table and influence the race for the semi-finals.

Jonathan Trott enjoyed a victory in his last game in charge of Afghanistan on Thursday, and while he does not know what the future holds, he said he would jump at the chance to coach England if the opportunity arose.

Afghanistan’s 82-run win over Canada concluded their Twenty20 World Cup campaign, where they managed only two wins and failed to advance to the Super Eight stage from Group D.

“I don’t know what the future holds. Maybe I have a couple of days off and see how it goes,” said the 44-year-old, who took over as Afghanistan coach in July 2022.

Trott represented England in 127 matches from 2009 to 2015 and was part of the side that won three consecutive Ashes series, including the 2010-11 victory in Australia.

“I’m very proud of the way I played my cricket and always like to see the England side do well,” the former batsman added.

“I’d love to one day hopefully have the opportunity to coach a team that you hold so dear to your heart.

“There are a lot of people who I’m sure would love to do that job. We’ll have to see. I just want to enjoy my coaching, and I’ve certainly enjoyed the last couple of years here.”

Trott’s initial contract with Afghanistan ran for 18 months before extensions through 2024 and 2025.

During his tenure, they reached their first T20 World Cup semi-final in 2024 and fell just short of the semis at the 50-overs World Cup in 2023.

West Indies beat Italy by 42 runs in their final Twenty20 World Cup Group C match on Thursday in Kolkata, as the two-time champions maintained their perfect record heading into the Super Eight stage.

Skipper Shai Hope recorded his 11th T20 International fifty, getting 75 off 46 balls to set up a target of 166, despite a spirited bowling performance from the opposition.

Italy were rocked early in the chase when a nip-backer from Matthew Forde knocked down Justin Mosca’s (2 off 5) stumps, before Akeal Hosein exacted revenge on Anthony Mosca — after being hit for two sixes — by deceiving the opener with a slower ball for 19.

JJ Smuts (24 off 27) and Ben Manenti (26 off 21) put on a fightback, but both fell to spinner Gudakesh Motie (2/24), ending Italy’s hopes. West Indies pacer Shamar Joseph registered figures of 4/30, while Forde got three wickets for 19 runs as Italy were bowled out for 123 in 18 overs.

Hope’s crucial knock steadied the West Indies ship early on after Italy pacers Ali Hasan (1/24) and Thomas Draca (1/22) picked two quick wickets.

Disciplined bowling from spinners Ben Manenti (2/37) and Crishan Kalugamage (2/25) shackled West Indies’ lower-middle order and restricted them to 165-6 in 20 overs — a target that ultimately proved beyond the associate side, who bowed out of the tournament with a solitary win over Nepal.

Sri Lanka’s Twenty20 World Cup campaign was dealt another blow on Wednesday when Matheesha Pathirana was ruled out of the rest of the tournament due to a left leg muscle strain, with Dilshan Madushanka approved as a replacement.

Pathirana, 23, collapsed clutching his left leg in his first over in the Group B clash with Australia in Pallekele on Monday.

A trusted bowler in the death overs, he limped off and never returned as Sri Lanka registered an eight-wicket victory.

This is the second major injury blow Sri Lanka had to endure after wrist-spin all-rounder Wanindu Hasaranga was ruled out with a hamstring injury that he picked up in the side’s tournament opener against Ireland.

Sri Lanka next play Zimbabwe in Colombo in their final Group B fixture on Thursday before their first Super Eight game against England on Sunday.