The ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 delivered an instant classic on February 11 as South Africa edged Afghanistan in a heart-stopping double Super Over at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. In a Group D encounter that defied belief at every turn, the Proteas ultimately prevailed by four runs in the second Super Over, but not before both teams produced moments of extraordinary drama.

South Africa batted first and posted a formidable 187 for 6 in their 20 overs. Captain Aiden Markram fell early, but Quinton de Kock and Ryan Rickleton seized control with a blistering 116-run partnership off just 61 deliveries. De Kock contributed 59 from 41 balls, while Rickleton was the more destructive of the two, smashing 61 off only 28 deliveries, peppering the stands with five fours and four towering sixes. It looked like a total that would be beyond Afghanistan's reach.

Enter Rahmanullah Gurbaz. The Afghan opener launched a stunning counter-attack, blazing 84 off just 42 balls to haul his side back into the contest. His innings was a masterclass in controlled aggression, and with support from the middle order, Afghanistan somehow managed to tie the scores at 187 apiece, sending the match into a Super Over.

The drama was only beginning. In the first Super Over, Afghanistan batted first and Azmatullah Omarzai came out swinging, crashing two fours and a six off the opening deliveries to set a daunting target of 17. South Africa's chase looked doomed until Tristan Stubbs launched a massive six off the final ball from Fazalhaq Farooqi to level the scores once more. The stadium erupted. A second Super Over was needed, a scenario so rare in international cricket that it sent shockwaves through the cricketing world.

In the decisive second Super Over, Stubbs and David Miller combined to devastating effect, plundering 23 runs off Omarzai's bowling. Afghanistan needed 24 to win, and Gurbaz gave it everything he had, smashing three consecutive sixes off Keshav Maharaj. For a moment, it seemed the impossible was on. But the equation proved just too steep, and Gurbaz holed out at point attempting one final heave, handing South Africa victory by four runs.

The match was one of several gripping encounters in the opening phase of the tournament, which is being hosted across India and Sri Lanka. Earlier on the same day, West Indies defeated England by 30 runs in Mumbai, powered by Sherfane Rutherford's unbeaten 76 off 42 balls, which included seven sixes. Gudakesh Motie then dismantled England's batting lineup with figures of 3 for 33.

The following day, India produced a record-breaking performance against Namibia in Delhi, romping to a 93-run victory, their largest ever in T20 World Cup history. Ishan Kishan set the tone with a blistering 61 off just 24 balls, as India reached 86 for 1 after the powerplay, the highest in T20 World Cup history. Hardik Pandya's all-round brilliance earned him the Player of the Match award.

As the group stage continues to unfold, with matches in Colombo, Delhi, and Chennai on February 13, the 2026 T20 World Cup has already delivered unforgettable moments. But it will be hard for any match to surpass the Ahmedabad epic, a contest that reminded the world why cricket, at its finest, remains the most unpredictable and thrilling sport on earth.