On-field drama! David Miller and Washington Sundar locked in heated exchange - Watch
Times of India
by TOI SPORTS DESKFebruary 23, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
India’s T20 World Cup title defense suffered a major blow after a convincing 76-run defeat to South Africa in a high-stakes Super 8 match. The hosts started strong, reducing the Proteas to 20/3 in the early overs, but South Africa fought back with a well-paced middle-order revival. David Miller played a pivotal role, scoring an unbeaten 63 off 35 deliveries, including seven fours and three sixes, to anchor his team’s innings and guide them to a competitive total of 187/7. However, the match was overshadowed by a heated on-field exchange between Miller and Washington Sundar, which briefly disrupted the flow of play.
The tension arose when Miller attempted a single and left his crease prematurely. Sundar, unhappy with this decision, raised concerns with the umpire, leading to an intense argument between the two players. Umpire Chris Gaffaney intervened to calm the situation, while South Africa captain Aiden Markram also stepped in during the drinks break to diffuse the tension. Although the exact cause of the disagreement remained unclear, it did not escalate further. Miller was eventually dismissed shortly after, but by then, South Africa had already rebuilt their innings thanks to Miller’s steady performance and key contributions from teammates Dewald Brevis and Tristan Stubbs.
India’s chase quickly unraveled as they lost wickets at crucial intervals. Ishan Kishan fell for a duck early on, setting the tone for a struggling innings. Despite some late resistance, India failed to build partnerships and were bowled out for 111, falling short of the target by 76 runs. This heavy defeat not only damaged their net run rate but also cast doubts over their Super 8 campaign. The match highlighted South Africa’s resilience under pressure and India’s inability to capitalize on their early dominance.
The incident between Miller and Sundar added another layer of intrigue to the match, showcasing the high stakes and emotions involved in a T20 World Cup
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Originally published on Times of India on 2/23/2026