Ahmedabad, February 23, 2026 — The host broadcasters of the T20 World Cup 2026, Star Sports, faced criticism after they removed a controversial advertisement that mocked South Africa, which has now come back to haunt Indian fans amid a disappointing loss.
The ad, part of a pre-match promo for the India versus South Africa clash, depicted an Indian supporter teasing a Proteas fan over a cupcake and referencing South Africa’s loss in the 2024 T20 World Cup final. The video, set in a café, was intended to build excitement and highlight the rivalry but drew widespread criticism for allegedly spoiling the spirit of the game.
The controversy intensified after India’s recent defeat to South Africa on Sunday. In Ahmedabad, South Africa posted a formidable 187/7 in 20 overs, with David Miller scoring an aggressive 63 off 35 balls. India’s batting faltered, collapsing to just 111 all out, with Shivam Dube’s 42 being the only notable contribution.
Star Sports promptly deleted the ad from its official X (formerly Twitter) account, though it remains unclear whether the removal occurred before or after the match.
Adding a humorous twist, South African actor and influencer Thanja Vuur shared an Instagram video mocking the controversy. The clip shows Vuur eating a cupcake while displaying the scorecard of India’s defeat, captioned “So sweet,” further highlighting the ongoing rivalry.
India’s loss marked their first defeat in 18 ICC matches across formats since the 2023 World Cup final at the same venue. The defeat also impacted India’s net run rate, which stands at -3.800, leaving them reliant on wins against Zimbabwe on February 26 in Chennai and West Indies on March 1 in Kolkata to advance to the semifinals.
Meanwhile, South Africa will next face West Indies on February 26, as the tournament’s high-voltage matches continue.