X is buzzing with mixed emotions as fans dissect India Women's bumpy batting innings against South Africa at Old Trafford. The internet went from pure joy during the Powerplay to deep worry as India struggled to finish strong. Fans went crazy for Shafali Verma early on. Even after Smriti Mandhana got out for 17, Verma refused to slow down. When a South African review showed the ball grazing her glove, Twitter fell silent. Fans felt she was set for a massive score.

The loudest complaints on Twitter focused on India's middle-order engine completely stalling out. Fans vented frustration as Yastika Bhatia (15), Jemimah Rodrigues (12), and Harmanpreet Kaur (24) all threw away good starts. Yastika Bhatia faced heavy criticism on Twitter for wasting a crucial DRS review on an obvious leg-before-wicket (LBW) decision.

Cricket pundits and fans agreed that India had a golden chance to cross 170+ runs but let South Africa's bowlers crawl right back into the game. Cricket Twitter is known for appreciating good game plans, and South Africa's fightback earned plenty of respect. South Africa's bowling leader was highly praised for keeping her cool under pressure. Her 2 wickets for 28 runs completely broke India’s momentum.

Fans also highlighted Nadine de Klerk’s brilliant caught-and-bowled trick to get rid of Jemimah Rodrigues just as she looked to accelerate. Fans are calling out India's lack of "finishing touch" as Twitter reactions highlight a massive contrast between the fiery start and a slow finish. India ended their 20 overs at 156/7, leaving the internet arguing whether this target is enough to defend.

Shabnim Ismail’s controversial dismissal of Shafali Verma catches attention

Shabnim Ismail dismissed Shafali Verma for 31 runs during the India vs South Africa group stage match at the 2026 ICC Women's T20 World Cup. The dismissal of Shafali Verma became controversial because neither the batsman nor the on-field umpire believed there was any contact with the ball, causing a highly unusual and quiet review process. Before getting out, 22-year-old Shafali Verma was absolutely tearing apart the South African bowling attack. Even after losing her opening partner Smriti Mandhana early, Verma kept India's run rate high by smashing 4 boundaries and 1 huge six. She scored a rapid 31 runs off just 15 balls, playing at a screaming strike rate of 206.

South Africa’s veteran speedster Shabnim Ismail decided to test Verma with brute pace. She fired in a fierce bouncer at 122.6 km/h that angled sharply into the batter. Verma originally tried to back away to fly-cut the ball, but it zipped in too quickly. She lost her balance and actually fell onto her back on the pitch while trying to duck under it. The ball skipped past her into the gloves of wicketkeeper Sinalo Jafta. There was almost no appeal from the bowler or the fielder at first because it looked like a clean miss. The umpire stood perfectly still, signaling a dot ball. South Africa gambled on a last-second review that shocked everyone. UltraEdge showed the ball faintly grazed Verma's glove while she fell backward. Verma did not even feel the touch, making her surprised departure a massive momentum shift.