Excitement grows ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 Sunday’s Super 8 clash at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, pitting an unbeaten Indian side against a struggling South African side, promises to be a blockbuster. With both teams bringing unblemished records to this important stage, the stakes couldn’t be higher.
Adding further spice to the contest is the memory of the 2024 T20 World Cup final, the last time the two sides met on the biggest stage. This rivalry is now reigniting and fans can expect another intense, high-quality battle between the two heavyweights of the format.
India go into the game full of confidence after four straight wins in the group stage. However, the team management is faced with a difficult choice call. The battle between Kuldeep Yadav and Arshdeep Singh continues, but given Ahmedabad’s penchant for helping the seamers early, Arshdeep is likely to retain his place. There is also good news for the home crowd as Axar Patel is expected to return home, adding balance with both bat and ball.
South Africa, meanwhile, looks overpopulated and dangerous. After resting several key players in their previous outing against UAE, they are set to bring back their strongest combination. David Miller’s firepower, Marco Jansen’s all-round batting and Keshav Maharaj’s spin management will strengthen their XI significantly.
IND vs SA, T20 World Cup 2026: Match details
- Date and Time: February 22; 7:00 am IST / 1:30 pm GMT
- Location: Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
IND vs SA Head to Head Record in T20Is
Matches played: 35 | India won by: 21 | South Africa won: 13 | No result: 01
Narendra Modi Stadium Pitch Report
The pitch at the Narendra Modi Stadium is likely to offer a good balance between bat and ball, though it has traditionally favored batsmen. Over the years, the venue has been known for hosting high-scoring T20 matches, and during the 2026 World Cup, teams batting first regularly passed the 175-run mark.
The fast bowlers were able to move a little early and bounce with the new ball, making the first few overs crucial. As the game progresses and the surface starts to slow down, the spinners are expected to come into play, find more grip and spin in the middle.
With an evening start on the cards, dew could play a big role. This can make it difficult for the bowlers to catch the ball in the second innings, so the captain who wins the toss may prefer to chase.
Groups
India: Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishi (wk), Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Washington Sundar, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy, Sanju Samson, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Mohammed Siraj
South Africa: Aiden Markram (c), Quinton de Kock (wk), Ryan Rickelton, Dewald Brevis, Tristan Stubbs, Jason Smith, George Linde, Corbin Bosch, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Kwena Maphaka, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Keshav Maharaj, Marco Jansen
IND vs SA, T20 World Cup 2026: Today’s Match Prediction
Case 1:
- India win the toss first
- South Africa powerplay score: 40-50 (6 overs)
- South Africa’s total score: 180-190
Case 2:
- South Africa win the toss first
- India powerplay score: 60-70 (6 overs)
- India’s total score: 200-210
Match Result: Team batting second to win the match.
