Ahmedabad, Feb 22 (NationPress) Captain Aiden Markram of South Africa praised his team's ability to adapt and swiftly evaluate the playing conditions after achieving a convincing 76-run win against India in the Super Eights stage of the 2026 Men’s T20 World Cup at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday.

Playing on a sluggish black soil pitch, David Miller led the score with 63 runs, while Dewald Brevis and Tristan Stubbs contributed with 45 and an unbeaten 44, respectively, as the Proteas bounced back from a challenging 20/3 to set a formidable total of 187/7 in 20 overs. The South African bowlers, spearheaded by Marco Jansen’s exceptional 4-22, then executed a tactical display to dismiss India for just 111 runs in 18.5 overs.

“It was a fantastic performance. The wicket was quite different from what we’ve experienced here, so it’s impressive to see the boys assess it early and adjust their skills to implement their strategies. We're really excited about the bowling unit. They have been putting in the effort, and although they started the competition a bit slowly, their performance tonight was commendable,” Markram remarked during the post-match presentation.

He acknowledged the crucial 97-run partnership between Miller and Brevis that helped stabilize the innings after early troubles. “The first priority was that partnership. Those guys were exceptional in putting that together, which steadied our innings and kept us competitive,” he added.

Markram emphasized that the team’s batting during the middle overs, particularly due to Miller and Brevis, was key. “Discussions towards the end indicated that the ball was traveling well tonight; it felt slightly spongy, so we focused on finding gaps to run aggressively, setting aside ego and capitalizing on every opportunity towards the end. They bowled well both at the start and near the end, but I believe our batting in the middle overs was the deciding factor,” he explained.

He also commended the fielding performance and highlighted pacer Lungi Ngidi's contributions. “We had a strong effort in the field. We dropped two catches, but it wasn’t for lack of trying. Against the UAE, we were not as connected as we wished, but today our presence and teamwork were much improved. We’re aware that mistakes will happen, and we can move past those. We believe Lungi is a threat anytime he bowls and can take crucial wickets for us in the middle overs,” stated Markram.

Looking forward to their next match against the West Indies, Markram noted, “It’s the same for both teams since we’ve faced each other recently. They are a formidable T20 team playing excellent cricket, so we’ll savor this victory for now, but we need to focus intently on the West Indies match. It’s a significant game for us, and we must not take our confidence or positive energy for granted. It’s vital to show up on the 28th ready to give it our all.”

Miller, celebrated as the Player of the Match, shared his strategy of sticking to his strengths while maintaining an aggressive approach. “It’s about ensuring you stay true to your strengths and not retreat into your shell. During the powerplay, all fielders were in the ring, so I aimed to go over them. The goal was to build partnerships and keep rotating the strike,” he explained.

He also detailed his scoring zones at the venue. “Given the nature of this ground, I aimed to target straight shots, as the straight boundaries are shorter than those on the square. I focused on hitting straight and reacting accordingly. I aimed to be aggressive against the spinners, who are world-class. Having faced them often, it’s about applying pressure and positioning myself to succeed,” he concluded.