Team India’s victorious march in ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 It came to a shocking halt on Sunday as South Africa handed the defending champions an embarrassing 76-run defeat in their first Super 8 match at the Narendra Modi Stadium. This defeat not only broke India’s 12-match winning streak in the tournament, but also entered the record books for all the wrong reasons – it is now India’s biggest defeat by runs in the history of the T20 World Cup.
India’s top three biggest defeats in the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup
1) Defeat by 76 runs against South Africa (Ahmedabad, 2026) – India’s darkest day in the T20 World Cup
The most recent and most damaging entry on this list came on February 22, 2026, in front of a stunned home crowd at the Narendra Modi Stadium. Chasing a target of 188 runs, India’s much-coveted batting lineup collapsed spectacularly in front of a disciplined South African attack and was all out for 111 runs in 18.5 overs.
After a strong start from Jasprit Bumrah (3/15) bowled out South Africa at 20/3, with India allowing David Miller (63) and Dewald Brewis (45) to stitch a match-turning 97-run stand. In reply, India’s top order collapsed at 26/3 inside the powerplay. Marco Jansen took 4 wickets for 22 runs, while Keshav Maharaj took 3 wickets for 24 runs.
This is the first time that a team defeated India by more than 50 runs in a T20 World Cup match.
2) Defeat against Australia by 49 runs (Bridgetown, 2010)
This 49-run defeat to Australia in the 2010 T20 World Cup was India’s biggest defeat before 2026. Chasing 185 runs, the Men in Blue were all out for 135 runs. In the match played at the Kensington Oval, Bridgetown on 7 May, Australia posted a competitive score after their bowlers, led by Shaun Tait and Dirk Nannes, dismantled the Indian batting lineup. The record stood unchallenged for 16 years before being destroyed by the South African invasion.
3) Defeat against New Zealand by 47 runs (Nagpur, 2016)
On 15 March 2016, India suffered a shocking 47-run defeat to New Zealand while chasing a modest target of 127 runs, at the Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Nagpur. However, the Blackcaps displayed a masterclass in spin bowling to baffle the Indian batsmen. India were bowled out for just 79 runs – their lowest ever score in T20 World Cup history. Mitchell Santner and Ish Sodhi raced through the lineup on a turning track, exposing India’s weakness against quality spin on home soil. This defeat remains a stark reminder that low scores can be just as dangerous as high scores on difficult surfaces.
