In the bright lights of the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, Afghanistan came within touching distance of a historic win but cricket can be painfully cruel.
In their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 Group D clash against South Africa on Wednesday (February 11), Rahmanullah Gurbaz delivered a performance full of passion and power. Chasing 188, the Afghan opener smashed 84 runs off just 42 balls, keeping his team firmly in the contest.
But the drama didn’t stop there.
The match went into a second Super Over and once again, Rahmanullah Gurbaz stepped up. Facing Keshav Maharaj, he launched three consecutive sixes, reigniting Afghanistan’s hopes and sending fans into frenzy. It felt like something special was about to happen. Yet, in a heartbreaking twist, Rahmanullah Gurbaz was dismissed on the final ball of the second Super Over and Afghanistan fell short.
Hours after the intense loss, Rahmanullah Gurbaz shared his emotions with fans on Instagram. Posting a collage of himself with his head bowed in disappointment, he wrote,
“Every match teaches us something. Today, we gave everything we had and fought till the very last moment, but it wasn’t our day. Still, your love and support mean more to us than words can say. We’re grateful for each one of you who stands with us through every high and low. We’ll learn, improve, and come back stronger than ever. Together, always”
Here is his post:
https://www.instagram.com/p/DUnq4m_jF4q
His heartfelt message quickly went viral, with fans praising both his performance and his honesty.
Rahmanullah Gurbaz, widely regarded as one of the most exciting batters of Afghanistan, truly gave it his all. He did everything possible to carry his team to victory and keep their T20 World Cup campaign alive. But despite his heroics, the result didn’t go their way.
The defeat in the second Super Over has left Afghanistan in a difficult position. While they are still mathematically in the race for the Super 8s, their fate is no longer in their own hands.
To stay alive, Afghanistan must win their remaining Group D matches against the United Arab Emirates and Canada by big margins. Even then, they will need either South Africa or New Zealand to lose both of their remaining games, a scenario that looks unlikely.
For now, Afghanistan’s hopes hang in the balance and Rahmanullah Gurbaz’s brave knock will be remembered as a fight that deserved a fairytale ending.
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