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The excitement is building at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 for what promises to be a blockbuster Super 8 clash as unbeaten India lock horns with a confident South African side at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday. With both teams carrying flawless records into this crucial phase, the stakes couldn’t be higher.
Adding extra spice to the contest is the memory of the 2024 T20 World Cup final, where the two sides last met on the biggest stage. That rivalry now reignites, and fans can expect another intense, high-quality battle between two heavyweights of the format.
India head into the game brimming with confidence after four straight wins in the group stage. However, the team management faces a tricky selection call. The debate between Kuldeep Yadav and Arshdeep Singh continues, but given Ahmedabad’s tendency to assist seamers early on, Arshdeep is likely to keep his spot. There’s also good news for the home crowd, as Axar Patel is expected to return at his home venue, adding balance with both bat and ball.
South Africa, meanwhile, look settled and dangerous. After resting a few 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 impact and Keshav Maharaj’s control with spin 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
- Venue: Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
IND vs SA, Head-to-Head Record in T20Is
Matches played: 35 | India won: 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 favoured the batters. Over the years, this venue has been known for producing high-scoring T20 contests, and during the 2026 World Cup, teams batting first have regularly pushed past the 175-run mark.
Fast bowlers could get some early movement and bounce with the new ball, making the first few overs crucial. As the game progresses and the surface begins to slow, spinners are expected to come into play, finding more grip and turn in the middle overs.
With an evening start on the cards, dew could play a major role. It may make gripping the ball difficult for bowlers in the second innings, which is why the captain winning the toss might prefer to chase.
Squads
India: Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan (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 wins the toss and bowls first
- South Africa’s powerplay score: 40-50 (6 overs)
- South Africa’s total score: 180-190
Case 2:
- South Africa wins the toss and bowls first
- India’s powerplay score: 60-70 (6 overs)
- India’s total score: 200-210
Match result: Team batting second to win the contest.
