A pre-match “cupcake” promotional video was pulled by the T20 World Cup 2026 host broadcaster after it received significant backlash following India’s 76-run Super 8 defeat to South Africa in Ahmedabad.
The café-themed advertisement showed an Indian fan taunting a Proteas supporter with a “cupcake” reference, a dig at South Africa’s heartbreaking loss in the 2024 T20 World Cup final. The clip quickly drew criticism online and was removed from official platforms.
The controversy only deepened when South Africa turned the tables on the pitch, making the premature celebration look all the more ill-timed.
Ad Removed After Super 8 Defeat
South Africa posted 187/7 in 20 overs, led by David Miller’s 63 off 35 balls. India were bowled out for 111 in reply, with Shivam Dube’s 42 the only notable contribution. The 76-run margin ended India’s run of 18 consecutive ICC matches without defeat across formats since the 2023 World Cup final.
Soon after the loss, South African actor and influencer Thanja Vuur shared a video referencing the same cupcake theme. In the clip, she appeared to be eating a cupcake while displaying India’s scorecard, captioned “So sweet.” The post circulated widely across social media.
The original advertisement had aimed to build rivalry ahead of a high-profile fixture but faced criticism over its tone. It remains unclear whether the broadcaster removed the video before or after the Super 8 match.
The defeat also left India with a net run rate of -3.800, making their remaining Super 8 fixtures against Zimbabwe and West Indies decisive for semi-final qualification.
