India beat South Africa by 30 runs in their final T20 World Cup 2026 warm-up match. This game took place at the DY Patil Stadium. The hosts batted first and put up a huge 240/6. Ishan Kishan’s quick-fire 53 off 20 balls and Tilak Varma’s smooth 45 drove the innings.
India vs South Africa Warm-Up Match Report: High Scores Mask Bowling Worries
The Proteas chased a steep target and managed 210/7. Tristan Stubbs fought a lone battle near the end. The batters looked in great form. However, the bowlers struggled to slow down the runs on a flat pitch. This left captain Suryakumar Yadav with plenty to think about before the tournament starts.
3 Big Issues for Team India After the Warm-Up Match
1. The Fifth Bowler Problem
Shivam Dube had a tough day with the ball. He gave away 57 runs in his four-over spell. He couldn’t find the right lengths, which allowed the South African batters score easily. He gave up three sixes in a row in the final over alone.
This performance highlights a significant gap in India’s bowling options. The team lack a reliable seam-bowling all-rounder who can keep things tight in the middle overs besides Hardik Pandya. If the main pacers get hit, the captain has few cheap options. This puts a lot of pressure on the batters to keep scoring 200-plus totals.
2. Giving Away Runs at the Death
India allowed South Africa to reach 210 even though they had them at 96/4. This indicates the team had difficulty completing the job. The bowlers let the match slip away during the final stages. They let Tristan Stubbs and the lower order score almost whenever they liked.
Jasprit Bumrah’s absence played a part. Still, the other seamers couldn’t land their yorkers when the pressure was on. India gave up over 100 runs in the second half of the innings. This happened against a team that had already lost their top order. It suggests that India’s death bowling remains weak without their main man.
3. Defensive Struggles on Flat Tracks
South Africa cleared the ropes with ease. This is a worry for games on batting-friendly pitches. Arshdeep Singh and the spinners took wickets but couldn’t really stop the scoring.
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In big knockout games, other teams will look for these weak spots. The team rely heavily on outscoring the opposition. This plan might fail if the top order has a bad day. The bowlers must find a way to defend average scores. Depending only on batting power is a real danger for the rest of the tournament.
