Daijiworld Media Network - Ahmedabad

Ahmedabad, Mar 13: Former England captain Michael Vaughan has sparked debate following the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, suggesting that the South Africa cricket team made a tactical misstep by defeating the West Indies in their Super 8 clash at the Narendra Modi Stadium. South Africa won comfortably by nine wickets, a result that inadvertently allowed India to stay in contention for the semi-finals.

Speaking on the ‘Stick to Cricket’ podcast, Vaughan remarked, “Who I think is the stupidest team of the tournament? South Africa. Because if South Africa had allowed the West Indies to beat them in the Super 8s, India would have been knocked out. By winning that game, they allowed the juggernaut to go on.”

Vaughan explained that South Africa’s win enabled India to defeat Zimbabwe later that day and eventually beat West Indies in the quarter-final and England in the semis. He noted that South Africa even rested three key players against Zimbabwe in their next match, highlighting what he described as a strategic oversight.

“Look, these things shouldn’t happen and usually don’t happen. If you want to win a World Cup, the best way is to eliminate the best team early,” Vaughan added, reflecting on common tournament strategies.

India’s high-pressure clash against the West Indies saw Sanju Samson score an unbeaten 97, guiding India to a five-wicket victory and securing a semi-final spot while ending West Indies’ campaign.

Meanwhile, South Africa faced New Zealand in the first semi-final in Kolkata, where the Black Caps, led by Mitchell Santner, dominated with a nine-wicket win. A standout performance came from Finn Allen, who scored a 33-ball century to help New Zealand cruise into the final. India eventually won the T20 World Cup 2026, highlighting their resilient campaign.