Sri Lanka, Feb. 23 -- The host broadcasters of the T20 World Cup 2026 took down a controversial advertisement in which an Indian fan mocked South Africa. Meant to highlight the rivalry and build excitement, Star Sports had released a pre-match promo for the India vs South Africa clash. The video, set in a cafe, showed an Indian fan trolling a Proteas supporter over a cupcake and reminding him of the 2024 T20 World Cup final loss. The ad did not sit well with viewers, who criticised the broadcaster for spoiling the spirit of the game.

On Sunday, the ad backfired for the Indian fans after Suryakumar Yadav and Co. suffered a 76-run defeat against South Africa. Playing in Ahmedabad, the Proteas posted 187/7 in 20 overs, with David Miller sma...