India Women’s captain Harmanpreet Kaur admitted that costly fielding lapses proved decisive in her team’s six-wicket loss to South Africa in the 2026 Women’s T20 World Cup. Despite posting a competitive 158/7, India’s sloppy fielding allowed the opposition to seize control, with three clear chances going begging. Tazmin Brits was dropped on 18, and Marizanne Kapp received two reprieves on 25 and 65, the second off substitute fielder Radha Yadav.

The South African duo made India pay dearly. Brits contributed a vital 40, while Kapp stayed unbeaten on 81 to anchor a record chase and hand India their first defeat of the tournament.

Reflecting on the game, Harmanpreet didn’t hold back in her assessment. “We got a couple of chances in between, but couldn’t take them. At this level, you have to grab those opportunities, and we weren’t lucky enough today,” she said during the post-match presentation.

She reserved praise for bowlers Shree Charani and Shafali Verma, who kept India in the hunt, but lamented the lack of support from the fielders. “They bowled really well, but the fielders didn’t back them up. That hurt us,” she added.

On Kapp’s match-defining knock, Harmanpreet said, “She took the game away from us. We gave her two chances, and those were the turning points.”

Despite the setback, the Indian captain urged her side to stay positive, with two group matches remaining—against Bangladesh on June 25 and Australia on June 28. “There are lots of learnings from this game, and plenty of positive moments too. Now is the time to stay strong, rethink our approach, and come back better in the upcoming games,” she said.

Match Summary:

Opting to bat first, India got off to a fluent start through Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma, but regular wickets stalled their momentum. Shafali top-scored with 31, while Deepti Sharma made 29 and Harmanpreet contributed 24 on her 200th T20I appearance. Kapp was the pick of the South African bowlers, finishing with 2/27.

In reply, South Africa stumbled early, slipping to 25/2 after a fiery spell from Sree Charani. However, Kapp and Brits joined forces for a 97-run partnership that flipped the game on its head. Kapp then powered the Proteas to 161/4 with 5 balls to spare, sealing their highest-ever successful chase in Women's T20 World Cup history.

The win lifted South Africa to third in Group A, while India remains in second place despite the defeat.
The win lifted South Africa to third in Group A, while India remains in second place despite the defeat.