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South Africa captain Aiden Markram hailed his side's adaptability and quick assessment of conditions on offer after securing a comprehensive 76-run victory over India in the Super 8 clash of 2026 Men's T20 World Cup at the Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday. On a slow black soil pitch, David Miller top-scored with 63 while Dewald Brevis and Tristan Stubbs hit 45 and 44 not out respectively as the Proteas recovered from 20/3 to post a challenging 187/7 in 20 overs. In reply, the South African bowlers, led by Marco Jansen's 4-22, then delivered a tactical and execution masterclass to bundle out India for 111 in 18.5 overs.
"Great performance. Very different type of wicket to what we've had here, so great to see the boys assess that pretty early and adapt their skills to execute their plans. We're really pumped for the bowling group. They've been working hard, started the comp a bit tough, but the way they rocked up tonight was a great effort," Markram said in the post-match presentation ceremony.
He credited the 97-run partnership between Miller and Brevis for steadying the innings after early setbacks. "I think first and foremost was that partnership. The guys were great, put that together for us, steadied the ship and kept us in the game," he added.
Markram said the team's batting through the middle overs, thanks to Miller and Brevis, proved to be decisive. "Conversations towards the back end were that the ball was travelling tonight, felt almost a bit spongy, so it was about finding space where we could run hard, drop the ego and take as much as we could at the back end. They bowled well up front and at the death as well, but I thought our batting through the middle was probably the difference."
He also praised the fielding effort and the role of pacer Lungi Ngidi. "Good effort in the field. We put two down but not for lack of effort. Against UAE we probably weren't as connected as we'd like, but that presence and connectedness was much better today. We're going to make mistakes, we don't mind that as a group, so we'll brush those aside. We feel like Lungi is a threat whenever he bowls and that he can take wickets for us in that middle phase," said Markram.
Looking ahead to their next clash against the West Indies, Markram said, "I think it's the same for both teams having played each other recently. They're a dangerous T20 side playing good cricket, so we'll enjoy this tonight, park it, and get our minds sharp for that West Indies clash. It's a big game for us and we don't want to take confidence or good vibes for granted. Important to rock up on the 28th and take it on full steam ahead."
Miller, named Player of the Match, said his approach was about sticking to his strengths and maintaining aggression. "Just about making sure you stick to your strengths and don't go into your shell. During the powerplay, all fielders were in the ring so thought of going over. Trying to get a partnership as much as we could, and trying to rotate strike," he said.
He explained his scoring areas at the venue. "With the nature of this ground, you want to look straight. Smaller there than square. Want to shape up to hit straight and then react. Looking to be nice and aggressive against the spinners. They have world-class bowlers. Have played against them a lot, trying to put them under pressure and about putting yourself in the position to do that."
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)
Russia's SVR foreign intelligence agency has taken over mercenary group Wagner's influence operations in Africa after the death of its founder, Yevgeny Prigozhin, according to a new investigation.
Wagner, whose brutal methods have been denounced by rights organisations, was Russia's best-known mercenary group.
It had a widespread presence in Africa, deploying fighters alongside the armies of countries including Libya and Mali, and also conducted vast disinformation and destabilisation campaigns.
After Prigozhin died in a plane crash in 2023 following a short-lived mutiny against Moscow, the Russian defence ministry has sought to replace Wagner in Africa and coordinate security operations through an umbrella group known as the Africa Corps.
But it is the SVR that has taken over Wagner's influence operations, aimed at pushing Moscow's political and economic interests, conducting disinformation campaigns and eliminating competition in Africa and beyond, according to an investigation by a consortium of investigative and media outlets, including Forbidden Stories and All Eyes On Wagner.
"The SVR has now taken over the most effective tool of the Wagner Group," said the investigation, which also involved Dossier Center, openDemocracy and iStories.
Nearly 100 consultants work for Wagner's influence branch, called Africa Politology or The Company, the investigative outlets said.
Between 2024 and 2025, the outfit deployed teams across numerous countries, including Angola, Argentina, Bolivia, Burkina Faso, Chad, Ghana, Libya, Mali, Niger and Sudan, the investigation said.
Teams have also been active in Madagascar, Zimbabwe, Egypt, Cameroon, Benin and Namibia.
- 'Influence and disinformation' -
"The SVR provides a layer of intelligence with information on specific topics, recruits sources, opens access and places key agents of influence in strategic roles," the consortium said.
The investigation was launched after internal documents from the network were anonymously sent to the editor-in-chief of the award-winning pan-African media outlet The Continent.
These files -- comprising more than 1,400 pages in Russian -- include strategic plans, staff biographies, operational reports, accounting records and summaries of disinformation campaigns carried out between January and November 2024.
The investigation confirmed the authenticity of the 76 documents and their content.
"The documents show that these operations combine political influence, disinformation and close ties to security services, going far beyond the usual practices in the sector," it said.
Sometimes, the SVR intelligence service competes with the Russian defence ministry, which oversees the GRU military intelligence, or has to coordinate with it, according to the investigation.
While the Russian defence ministry took over Wagner operations in countries such as Mali, it did not bring the Russian private military contractors under its control in the Central African Republic.
"In the Central African Republic, the SVR is called upon to help the defence ministry avoid hindering the activities of Wagner," investigators said.
- 'Political win' -
The investigators reveal the nearly systematic involvement of the SVR across Africa.
"In Mali, the SVR is tasked to provide intelligence to Africa Politology regarding the military and political plans of France and the United States in the Sahel," the consortium said.
"It is also missioned to provide diplomatic support for the creation of a new military-political union to Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger and the Republic of Guinea."
After successive coups in 2021, 2022 and 2023, junta-run Mali, Burkina Faso and Niger have turned their back on former colonial power France, drawing closer to Russia.
They broke ties with west African regional bloc ECOWAS and launched a rival group, the Alliance of Sahel States, or AES, in 2023.
"Russia's strategy manifested with the creation of the Alliance of Sahel States," the investigation said.
"That's a significant political win," Lou Osborn, co‑author of the investigation, told AFP, adding that Russians were particularly successful in the "unstable, vulnerable" Sahel countries.
She said she found the network's lobbying efforts in Africa "fascinating".
"They have so many lawyers, and they really try to influence laws," she added.
The journalists identified a network of companies used to send funds from the SVR to The Company.
According to their calculations, the budget for the influence operations between January and October 2024 amounted to nearly $7.3 million, or about $750,000 per month.
Despite their budget and efforts, Russia did not have much to show for its efforts, the investigators said.
"Russia is playing the long game but the results are not always quick to materialise," they said.
"On the African continent, Russia is signing a lot of memorandums of understanding but fails to convert these non-binding agreements into money-making businesses."
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by NDTV staff and is published from a syndicated feed.)