At Tuesday’s AI Impact Summit in Delhi, Prime Minister Narendra Modi emphasized that India’s organizing principles—sovereignty over data, inclusiveness by design, and accountability by default—were inspired by its own civilizational urge.

PM Modi was alluding to an article on X written by Union Minister Hardeep Singh Puri about the accomplishments at the AI Impact Summit 2026, the largest conference of its kind ever held in the Global South and attended by more than 20 heads of state and more than 500 AI leaders from over 100 countries.

According to the minister, the first Global South country to host the global AI summit series under Prime Minister Modi’s leadership did more than just organize a discussion; it also outlined the terms on which it plans to compete: a Delhi Declaration that alters the rules governing AI governance; digital infrastructure handling almost half of all real-time payments worldwide; investment commitments in the hundreds of billions; sovereign models created from the ground up; and entry into the supply chain security architecture of the AI era.

Puri outlined the PM’s MANAV vision, which includes: legal validity so that every deployed system is subject to democratic scrutiny; broad access so that benefits reach a farmer in Madhya Pradesh as surely as an engineer in Bengaluru; ethical guardrails; accountable governance; and sovereignty over data so that the raw material of intelligence is not extracted the way commodities once were.​

The minister went on to say that PM Modi’s proposal to allow AI to fly freely while maintaining human control draws a boundary that many developed nations have been hesitant to draw. ​

The Delhi Declaration, which was adopted at the summit and is already regarded as the first significant AI governance blueprint from the Global South, gives these principles multilateral weight. It takes a development-oriented stance and is based on a techno-legal approach that prioritizes flexible guardrails over strict compliance. Its three pillars—people, planet, and progress—organize international cooperation.

The majority of the globe does not speak English, and population-scale solutions like BharatGen, which supports 22 Indian languages, recognize this.

Entry barriers are reduced worldwide via a proposed global compute bank that is based on India’s subsidized GPU access at Rs 65 per hour. AI extractivism—the practice of using data from developing countries to train models that those countries must then pay to use—is challenged by the stress on data sovereignty, Puri continued.

After defeating Pakistan by two wickets in the Group 2 Super 8 match at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy on Tuesday, England qualified for the semifinals of the T20 World Cup thanks to captain Harry Brook‘s incredible comeback with a stunning 100 off 51 deliveries batting for the first time at No. 3.

As the first captain to score a century in a men’s T20 World Cup match, Brook created history. With little time remaining, England was able to chase down Pakistan’s score of 164 for 9 thanks to his outstanding 100 off 51 balls, which featured 10 fours and four sixes.

For the first time in his T20I career, Brook was promoted up the order. He replied with authority, hitting 41 of England’s 53 Power-play runs and virtually single-handedly kept the match alive. Brook became the first captain in T20 World Cup history to achieve a century.

From the first delivery of the chase, drama developed. Phil Salt edged inside the line to Usman Khan for a golden duck, but Shaheen Shah Afridi’s inswing with the new ball ended his stay.

Shaheen continued his dismal run of form (26, 21, 3, 3, 7, 2) in this competition, going without a boundary since leaving Mumbai, when he hit another ball with an outswinging delivery to Jos Buttler, who under-edged it for two runs.

Usman Tariq dropped Jacob Bethell at short fine leg on the six-run after he briefly threatened Shaheen. Shaheen then bowled him out, taking three wickets in the Powerplay. Shaheen’s hard length and unwavering accuracy were crucial to his success despite his lack of swing, and he had now taken eight wickets in his opening over of the T20 World Cup, matching Angelo Mathews.

Pakistan had a disastrous start in the powerplay after opting to bat first, losing two early wickets. Saim Ayub, who has once again struggled in the tournament, did not make an impression at bat. Jofra Archer dismissed him on a run-a-ball seven after testing him with several bouncers early on.

Liam Dawson scored in his opening over, and captain Salman Ali Agha (5) was removed in the third over. Sahibzada Farhan had a smooth start, hitting the fence four times, while Babar Azam showed promise with two clean boundaries before halftime, keeping Pakistan in the match at 46/2 despite the setbacks.

The key to slowing things down was the introduction of spin. Liam Dawson and Adil Rashid collaborated to get the pitch’s grip and variety. The hitters were forced to play conservatively by their well-organized lines and small speed variations. Pakistan needed to pick up speed in the second half of the innings after getting stuck.

With a stunning change of pace, Fakhar Zaman used his feet to hurl Will Jacks straight back over his head for a massive six. As the 14th over produced 16 runs, Farhan increased the pressure in the same over by blasting a huge 100-meter hit over midwicket. With a tough and tenacious fifty in 37 deliveries, Farhan supported his century in the previous game, but Overton undid him for a 63 off 45 balls.

At a crucial juncture, Dawson made a brilliant move to dismiss Fakhar Zaman. Fakhar misread Rashid’s subsequent googlies, sending the second one off a thick top edge high toward the leg side. Dawson made a terrific tumbling catch on his back after sprinting to his right with a short, fine leg.

Usman Khan started with two runs after taking advantage of another England misfield, then he calmly slog-swept over midwicket for six. Returning for his second spell, Dawson dismissed Usman after being hammered for a four off a misfield. He then ended his innings with 3 for 24 by dismissing Mohammad Nawaz on the subsequent delivery.

England was struggling at 58 for 4 and then at 103 for 5 after Usman Tariq’s double strike in the middle overs. But Brook refused to give up. He scored an incredible hundred runs in just 50 balls, tearing up Pakistan’s bowling attack.

He followed it up with a four through mid-off after hitting Afridi for six over cover. With just 10 runs needed, he departed the field to a standing ovation despite being bowled by a pinpoint yorker.

When England lost two wickets to Mohammad Nawaz, they nearly blew their lead and forced the match into the last over. Salman Mirza was then driven through midwicket by Jofra Archer to ensure victory. With one game remaining, this victory assured England a place in the semi-finals, marking their fifth successive appearance in the men’s T20 World Cup.

Despite Sahibzada Farhan’s outstanding 63, Pakistan still needed to defeat Sri Lanka and hope for favorable outcomes elsewhere.

In a Super 8 stage encounter at the Pallekele International Cricket Stadium in Kandy on Tuesday, captain Harry Brook made a historic century as England defeated Pakistan by two wickets, making them the first side to advance to the semifinals of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup.

Brief scores:
Pakistan 164/9 in 20 overs (Sahibzada Farhan 63, Fakhar Zaman 25; Liam Dawson 3-24, Jamie Overton 2-26)
England 166/8 in 19.1 overs (Harry Brook 100, Will Jacks 28; Shaheen Afridi 4-30, Usman Tariq 2-31)

Actors Rashmika Mandanna and Vijay Deverakonda arrived in Udaipur on Monday to begin their wedding celebrations. They are scheduled to exchange vows on February 26. The actors’ marriage was formally announced.

Mementos by ITC Hotels in Ekaaya, Udaipur, will host the wedding ceremony. Vijay’s partner, Rashmika Mandanna, matched him with an elegant costume while he wore a black leather outfit.

The actress wore a blazer with an open front, twin front pockets, a tailored fit and design, padded shoulders, full-length sleeves folded to the elbow, and a notch lapel collar.

Before heading to the wedding location, Vijay waved to the press and fans and finished off his appearance with a moustache.

“Our Dearest loves, before we made any plans, before we picked anything for ourselves, you were already there,” Rashmika and Vijay posted on their own Instagram accounts. You gave us a name with such affection. You referred to us as “VIROSH.” Therefore, we humbly name this gathering in your honor today. We propose calling it “The Wedding of VIROSH.” We are grateful for your love and support. You are always a part of us. Hugs and love in abundance.

The picture displays a gorgeously designed tabletop that is illuminated by warm, golden light. Fresh green apples and cascading grapes are artistically combined with blush pink lilies and light green hydrangeas in a delicate floral arrangement at the center, which gives the decor an organic, garden-meets-luxury look.

A custom-printed menu card that hinted at a carefully planned Japanese dining experience for visitors was placed nicely on the table. The selection adds a personal, gourmet touch to the pre-wedding festivities and displays a sophisticated and internationally influenced palette.

According to reports, in order to keep the event private, there should be a stringent no-phone policy and NDAs for organizers.

Rashmika Mandanna and Vijay Deverakonda’s love story began when they worked together in the Telugu movie ‘Geetha Govindam’ in 2018, their on-screen chemistry fueled early dating suspicions. Their reunion in “Dear Comrade” heightened fan conjecture about a genuine relationship.

In the years that followed, they were regularly spotted together in private and at gatherings, although they both avoided discussing personal matters.

At the 79th British Academy feature Awards (BAFTA), Farhan Akhtar’s Manipuri-language feature “Boong” took home the coveted Best Children’s & Family Film title.

“The last few steps to achieve a top of a mountain we never knew we were climbing in the first place” is how director Lakshmipriya Devi characterized the event.

As the first Indian film to win the Best Children’s and Family Film category of the BAFTA (British Academy of Film and Television Arts) Award, Boong made history. Laskhmipriya Devi is the director of the Manipuri movie, which Farhan Akhtar is supporting.

In addition to Jared Bush and Byron Howard’s Hollywood animated comedy, Zootropolis 2 (also known as Zootopia 2 in some markets), Boong was nominated alongside movies like Ugo Bienvenu’s French animated science fiction film Arco and Dean Fleischer Camp’s live-action animated comedy, Lilo & Stitch.

A video of Lakshmipriya Devi accepting the award was posted on the BAFTA official Instagram site. She greeted them with the customary “Kurumjari.”

The hike up to this point felt like the final few steps to the top of a mountain we had no idea we were ascending in the first place, she said. Therefore, we are grateful to the jury and BAFTA for their overwhelming support of our tiny film.

The filmmaker emphasized that the film has a strong connection to his native Manipur, which he characterized as a problematic, neglected, and underrepresented area in India.

“A film that is not only based in Manipur, my native India, a region that is extremely disturbed, neglected, and underrepresented.” It is a tribute to my native country. We wish for peace to come to Manipur, therefore I just wanted to take this chance to say that,” Devi added.

She also expressed optimism that children who were internally displaced—including the young performers in the movie—would once again experience happiness, innocence, and dreams.

We hope that all internally displaced youngsters, including the young performers in the movie, may one day rediscover their happiness, their purity, and their dreams. “We hope that no conflict would ever be so powerful that it destroys the one superpower,” she said.

The cast of Boong includes Jenny Khurai, Hamom Sadananda, Gugun Kipgen, Bala Hijam, Angom Sanamatum, Vikram Kochhar, and Nemetia Ngangbam.

On September 5, 2024, the movie made its global premiere in the Discovery section of the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival.

In the midst of Manipur’s social unrest, it chronicles a young boy’s sincere attempt to bring his family back together.

In his monologue, Paddington Bear announced, “I am the first-ever bear to present an award, and also the first presenter to get marmalade over a BAFTA.” He then presented the award.

Bollywood actor Aamir Khan was visited Superstar Arijit Singh in his hometown of Murshidabad. The singer hung up his boots for playback singing before this. Following the actor’s kind pursuit, the singer gave playback singing for Hindi movies one last go.

The title track of the upcoming movie “Ek Din,” which features the singer’s voice, was posted on social media by the film’s producers on Monday. The video depicts the actor visiting Arijit at home. On February 3, a few days after Arijit declared his retirement from playback singing, the celebrity paid him a visit.

“Aisa mat kar yaar, hum log ka kya hoga (Do not do that, what will we do)?” Aamir asks the singer in the video if he is on a sabbatical or if he has stopped playback singing for Hindi movies.

Aamir traveled to Murshidabad to record the movie’s title track. The actor had travelled to meet Arijit Singh to encourage him to rethink his reported retirement. When Aamir tweeted a poster and thanked Arijit for providing his voice for his forthcoming film “Ek Din,” which stars Sai Pallavi and Junaid Khan and is distributed by Aamir Khan Productions, the rumors were put to rest.

In order to convince Arijit to change his stated retirement and personally ask him to sing in the movie, Aamir traveled to his birthplace of Murshidabad and spent four days there with Arijit and his family.

‘Ek Din’ reunites Aamir Khan with filmmaker Mansoor Khan after a considerable break, restoring one of Hindi cinema’s most cherished creative partnerships. Together, they have produced films such as “Qayamat Se Qayamat Tak,” “Jo Jeeta Wohi Sikandar,” “Akele Hum Akele Tum,” and “Jaane Tu… Ya Jaane Na” that audiences will never forget.

“Ek Din” is directed by Sunil Pandey and produced by Aamir Khan, Mansoor Khan, and Aparna Purohit under the auspices of Aamir Khan Productions. On May 1, 2026, the movie is scheduled to open in theaters.

According to delegates at a conference hosted by the Chintan Research Foundation (CRF) here on Monday, the India-Africa engagement is increasingly positioned not just as historical solidarity but as a forward-looking partnership shaping a more equitable and multipolar global order as global power structures undergo structural realignment.

“The volatile times we are living in, accompanied by disruption of supply chains, call for south-south collaboration in energy transition and climate action,” stated Sudhakar Dalela, Secretary (Economic Relations) in the Ministry of External Affairs, in his keynote presentation.

His speech covered the growing Indian diplomatic presence in Africa and emphasized the importance of Africa in India’s economic diplomacy and South-South cooperation framework. He also stated that India’s “Vasudhaiva Kutumbakam (the world is one family)” principle defines India-Africa solidarity.

“India–Africa Partnership in a Changing Global Order” was the theme of the day-long seminar that the CRF and the USANAS Foundation in Udaipur organized.

In the face of a fast changing global environment, it convened ambassadors, senior diplomats, policymakers, academics, and strategic analysts to discuss the changing nature of India-African cooperation.

Panellists emphasised that the India–Africa partnership needs to expand into newer areas like digitisation, critical minerals and climate action, while strengthening the partnership in aspects such as trade, people-to-people linkages and security challenges.

Dr. Abhinav Pandya, the founder and CEO of the USANAS Foundation, and CRF President Shishir Priyadarshi welcomed the delegates and emphasized the need for India and Africa to improve their ties, particularly in trade. The present disarray in the world order is tainted by unpredictable commerce, which will hinder the expansion of the India-African cooperation.

In order to promote South-South collaboration, they emphasized the historical dimensions of the India-Africa alliance as well as the necessity of strong international institutions and security frameworks.

Panelists emphasized during the discussions that there are a number of opportunities and problems associated with the growing commerce, technological, and transnational connectivity connection between India and Africa. It was emphasized that India should work more closely with Africa to further expand commerce, as the two continents have already reached $100 billion in 2024–2025 and want to reach $200 billion by 2030.

Anil Sooklal, the former G20 and BRICS Sherpa and the High Commissioner of South Africa to India, outlined three important facets of technological cooperation that will be discussed at the fourth India-Africa Forum Summit (IAFS). These include sharing innovations in the agriculture sector to ensure food security and aiding in the development of skills and capacity.

As he examined the African Continental Free Trade Area’s (AfCFTA) revolutionary potential, he emphasized the necessity for India to have a clear plan for interacting with the rest of Africa.

It was noted during the discussion about the development of India-Africa industrial cooperation that India plays a crucial role in Africa’s industrialization since it provides a mix of capital, expertise, and skills.

Ambassador Anil Wadhawa emphasized that India-Africa collaboration in ports, infrastructure, and technology is about co-architecting futures in a shifting global order, not merely constructing assets. He noted that it was also necessary to share India’s digitization experience with others.

The conference also looked at how to negotiate and improve the India-Africa partnership in the current global environment.

Dr. Desire Boniface Some, the ambassador of Burkina Faso to India, said that a new framework for the global order is emerging as a result of President Donald Trump’s election in the United States. It is crucial to concentrate on how India-Africa cooperation may result in win-win, mutually beneficial consequences in the new global order.

In the context of the great powers’ involvement in Africa, the discussions also explored the potential for enhancing the India-Africa partnership. While discussing the strategic convergence, particularly under the dynamic global order, the speakers noted that the African Union’s membership in the G20 was a major success in the India-Africa alliance.

The first Indian Super League (ISL) 2025–26 match between Odisha FC and recently promoted Inter Kashi FC will take place on Tuesday at the Kalinga Stadium in Bhubaneswar.

Odisha’s season-opening game against Punjab FC on February 16 was postponed, hence this will be their first home game.

In the meantime, Inter Kashi will be looking to capitalize on their strong start after displaying incredible tenacity to secure a 1-1 draw against AIFF Super Cup champions FC Goa in their league debut last week.

“We are not focused on the outcomes,” Odisha FC head coach TG Purushottaman stated prior to their season’s opening game. The outcomes will happen on their own; we are focusing on the performances. We shall focus on our advantages and try to take advantage of their disadvantages. We will accept the difficulties when they arise.

Odisha FC captain Carlos Delgado stated, “The most essential thing is to stay together, be compact, ambitious, and enjoy the training,” in reference to the team’s objectives this season. We have little time, therefore we need to come together as a cohesive team as soon as possible. We shall battle and do everything in our power to prevail.

When the two teams faced off in the AIFF Super Cup 2024, Odisha won 3-0 thanks to goals from Lalthathanga, Diego Maurício, and Puitea.

Antonio López Habas, head coach of Inter Kashi, discussed Tuesday’s game by saying, “Our basic strategy is to develop the club in this division and improve daily. The next match is always the aim, and Odisha is the target this time. Despite the fact that we are not the league favorites, we aim to compete all season long. The players I have determine my style of play. “This is my system, and it will never change,” is not something a coach can declare. No! You have to adjust to your players’ characteristics and circumstances. That is my way of thinking.

“Because the league is so short, we must accomplish things well right away. However, there is not any pressure. We will be competitive in every game if we adhere to the coach’s instructions and carry out our plans effectively. This is Inter Kashi’s debut season in the ISL. Alfred Planas, a forward for Inter Kashi, stated, “We have to concentrate entirely on the things that are dependent upon us.”

Inter Kashi FC will be keen to build on their season’s great start, while Odisha FC will look to kick off their campaign with a dominant home performance.

In a Group 1 match in the Super 8s stage of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 in Mumbai on Monday, West Indies defeated a completely outclassed Zimbabwe by 107 runs thanks to Shimron Hetmyer’s blitzkrieg, which included seven sixes and an equal number of fours in a magnificent 34-ball 85.

As he led the West Indies to an incredible 254/6 in 20 overs, the greatest team score by any team in the T20 World Cup 2026 and the second-most in the tournament’s history, Hetmyer let loose fireworks on a gripping and spin-assisting Wankhede ground. Their 107-run victory margin proved to be the most in this competition.

Although Rovman Powell’s 35-ball 59 and his outstanding support in the third-wicket partnership of 122 runs proved to be the catalyst for a captivating performance by the 29-year-old Guyana player, who has risen from the middle-order to No. 2 in the batting order, Hetmyer turned the West Indies’ effort into a one-knock innings, scoring 85 in 34 balls.

But the match belonged to Hetmyer as his spectacular onslaught did a lot of good to West Indies’ Net Run Rate ahead of the key bouts against South Africa and India, as his big-hitting contributed to a tremendous.

After hitting Ngarava for consecutive boundaries in the fifth over and hitting Graeme Cremer for sixes off consecutive balls in the seventh over—the first a swipe across the line that landed in the deep mid-wicket stand, and the second over the cow corner—Hetmyer, who was on ten at the time, began a blitzkrieg.

He reached his half-century in 19 balls as West Indies rushed to 92/2 in the eighth over after hitting Zimbabwe captain Sikander Raza for three sixes in four legal deliveries in the following over.

The West Indies amassed a huge score, leaving Zimbabwe with a mountain to climb in the second innings. Sherfane Rutherford (31 not out off 13 balls) and Jason Holder (13 in four balls) hit Muzarbani for sixes off consecutive balls in the last over.

The target proved to be too difficult for Zimbabwe to reach, and when they collapsed to 20/3 in the third over, their battle was gone. Despite leaving the field to seek medical assistance after being struck by a shot from Powell, captain Sikander Raza took a few strokes during his 20-ball 27 and Dion Myer added 28 off 15 (3×4, 2×6).

In the last overs, Brad Evans smashed two consecutive sixes off Shamar Joseph and Jason Holder, scoring 43 off 21 balls (2×4, 5×6) as Zimbabwe was bowled out for 147 in 17.4 overs, suffering a crushing defeat. Although Evans and Richard Ngarava’s last-wicket partnership gave the total some respectability, Zimbabwe, the league phase giant-killers with victories over Australia and Sri Lanka, could not withstand the strain on the scoreboard.

While Akeal Hosein, who began Zimbabwe’s decline with 2-21 at the beginning, claimed 3-28 and Matthew Forde claimed 2-27 to finish the demolition job, Gudekesh Motie, who bowled beautifully, achieved his best numbers of 4-28.

Hetmyer, who won Player of the Match for his spectacular knock, stated, “I am trying to think less today, and the bat will now do the talking, and I respond to what is in front of me.” Significant. Especially because I did not win the last game. “All I want to do is repeat what I have been doing for the past two months,” Hetmyer remarked.

“I believe that we will not learn anything if we consider changing the country or the venues, and I believe that learning from this game is crucial. We do not wish to search for justifications. After the game, Raza stated, “We have to win in every country and at every location if we want to advance.”

West Indies’ NRR increased to 5-plus as a result of the decisive victory, further complicating India’s route to the semifinals.

Brief scores:
West Indies 254/6 in 20 overs (Shimron Hetmyer 85, Rovman Powell 59, Sherfane Rutherford 31 not out; Blessing Muzarabani 2-42, Richard Ngarava 2-47)

Zimbabwe 147 all out in 17.4 overs (Brad Evans 43 not out; Gudakesh Motie 4-28, Akeal Hosein 3-28)

Following India’s hosting of a significant AI summit that brought together world leaders and leading industry executives, multinational technology companies have committed to investing hundreds of billions of dollars in AI projects associated with the nation.

The spike in pledges coincides with a global race by governments and businesses to increase their AI capabilities.

It is anticipated that global hyperscalers like Amazon, Microsoft, Meta, and Alphabet will collectively spend up to $700 billion this year on capital expenditures related to artificial intelligence.

Large-scale plans have been announced by major industrial firms in India. According to reports, Reliance Industries intends to spend $110 billion on data centers and associated infrastructure.

In the meantime, the Adani Group has laid out a $100 billion investment plan to construct data centers with an AI concentration over the course of the next ten years.

During the meeting, a number of American companies also made significant pledges. By the end of the decade, Microsoft plans to invest $50 billion on AI initiatives throughout the Global South.

To improve AI capabilities in India, OpenAI and chipmaker Advanced Micro Devices announced collaborations with the Tata Group.

The Indian AI infrastructure company Neysa raised $600 million in equity capital from US asset management Blackstone.

The occasion emphasized India’s goal of becoming a major player in the world of technology. To improve its local supply chain, the nation has authorized $18 billion worth of semiconductor projects.

Meanwhile, a trade deal between the US and India is getting closer with the goal of reducing tariffs and fostering economic cooperation.

The Pax Silica pact, a US-led project started under the Trump administration to safeguard the global supply chain for silicon-based products, was signed by officials of both nations during the summit.

The event was attended by prominent figures in the field of artificial intelligence, such as Sam Altman, the CEO of OpenAI, Sundar Pichai, the CEO of Alphabet, Dario Amodei, and Demis Hassabis, the CEO of Google DeepMind.

In order to broaden its exposure to new technology startups in India, chip giant Nvidia has stated that it is growing its alliances with venture capital firms there.

At the Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday, South Africa’s brutal bowling performance saw them defeat India by 76 runs in their Super Eights match of the Men’s T20 World Cup. Left-arm fast-bowling all-rounder Marco Janse picked 4-22.

India suffered their first defeat in an ICC tournament since the 2023 ODI World Cup final at the same location, in front of 90,954 spectators in a sea of blue.

David Miller and Dewald Brevis led the Proteas to an incredible comeback after they were reduced to 20/3 in just four overs on a sluggish black soil surface. Brevis and Miller’s 97-run combination steadied the innings with Miller hitting a smooth 63 off 35 balls and Brevis making 45.

After Miller was dismissed, South Africa’s momentum slowed to 39 runs from overs 14–19. However, Stubbs unleashed a flurry of action in the last over, hitting Hardik Pandya for a four and two massive sixes to put South Africa at 187/7 and leave them undefeated at 44 off 24 balls.

Arshdeep Singh’s 2-28 and Jasprit Bumrah’s 3-15 made him the standout for India, but the remainder of the assault, including Varun Chakaravarthy’s 1-47, found it difficult to stop the Proteas comeback. Prior to reaching the halfway point, India’s chase had stalled, falling to 51/5.

South Africa defeated India by 76 runs in their Men’s T20 World Cup Super Eights match on Sunday at the Narendra Modi Stadium thanks to a vicious bowling display. All-rounder Marco Janse, a left-arm fast bowler, was selected 4–22.

In front of 90,954 spectators in a sea of blue, India lost their first ICC tournament since the 2023 ODI World Cup final at the same venue.

On a slow black soil surface, the Proteas were reduced to 20/3 in just four overs, but David Miller and Dewald Brevis pulled off an amazing recovery. The innings was steadied by the 97 runs that Brevis and Miller scored together, with Brevis scoring 45 and Miller smashing a clean 63 off 35 balls.

South Africa’s momentum halted to 39 runs from overs 14–19 after Miller was removed. But in the last over, Stubbs placed South Africa at 187/7 and left them undefeated at 44 off 24 balls after smashing Hardik Pandya for a four and two huge sixes.

India’s best players were Arshdeep Singh (2-28) and Jasprit Bumrah (3-15), while the rest of the attack, notably Varun Chakaravarthy (1-47), struggled to halt the Proteas rally. India’s pursuit had stagnated to 51/5 before the midway point.

Miller and Brevis easily struck Chakaravarthy for sixes because he overpitched, while the latter also took two sixes and a four off Shivam Dube. However, Brevis mistimed a pull to deep mid-wicket, giving Dube the final laugh. With a lofted shot over extra cover off Dube, Miller took advantage of his second free hit and reached his fifty in 26 balls.

However, Bumrah and Arshdeep bowled tight overs to contain South Africa after Miller holed out to long out against Chakaravarthy. Bumrah held onto a return chance that Corbin Bosch had given him while Arshdeep had Marco Jansen holing out to deep mid-wicket. To give South Africa a respectable total, Stubbs got 20 runs off Hardik’s last over when an over-rate penalty was in effect.

When Ishan Kishan tried a crazy slog against Aiden Markram, the top-edge was caught by cover, putting India behind the ball from the start. South Africa’s match-up strategy was successful. After that, Marco Jansen used extra bounce to adjust for a waltzing Tilak Varma, who also burned a review.

After scoring three ducks, Abhishek Sharma quickly counterattacked with a drive for four from Kagiso Rabada and a ramp shot for six to get off the mark. However, at 15, Jansen’s knuckle ball tricked him, causing top-edge to be caught at mid-wicket sprinting to his right and avoiding a collision with mid-on, ending his innings.

Markram cleverly varied his bowlers to keep India’s batters from getting into a rhythm even with the presence of dew. In an attempt to steady the innings, India elevated Washington Sundar, but the move backfired because all he could do was offer Corbin Bosch an outside edge.

When Suryakumar Yadav mishit a whip to short mid-wicket in his subsequent over, Bosch scored once more, leaving India in ruins at 51/5 in 9.1 overs. As Ngidi’s changes tightened the screws even more, the asking rate increased gradually, making it harder for Shivam Dube and Hardik Pandya to gain traction.

When Pandya attempted to extricate himself from Maharaj, he was apprehended by long-off because of the strain. When Maharaj had Rinku Singh holing out to long-on for a two-ball duck and Arshdeep Singh was removed by long-on with a hop and grab catch, India’s decline accelerated even further.

Due to the fact that South Africa had already won the match, Dube’s late burst of spectacular hits was insignificant.

Brief Scores:
South Africa 187/7 in 20 overs (David Miller 63, Dewald Brevis 45; Jasprit Bumrah 3-15, Arshdeep Singh 2-28)
India 111 all out in 18.5 overs (Shivam Dube 42, Hardik Pandya 18; Marco Jansen 4-22, Keshav Maharaj 3-24)