Ahmedabad (Narendra Modi Stadium), 22 February 2026 — India v South Africa.
In a high-stakes Super 8 Group 1 clash of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, defending champions India locked horns with South Africa under lights in Ahmedabad. With both teams unbeaten going into this fixture and aiming for a semi-final berth, the match promised a tense battle of bat and ball.
Toss & Playing XIs
- Toss: South Africa won the toss and elected to bat first against India.
- India XI: Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan (wk), Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Washington Sundar, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy.
- South Africa XI: Aiden Markram (c), Quinton de Kock (wk), Ryan Rickelton, Dewald Brevis, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi.
Social media buzzed earlier regarding fans criticizing India for ignoring vice-captain Axar Patel in this crucial encounter.
📊 Live Scorecard: India vs South Africa — T20 World Cup 2026
(Updated ~7:40 PM IST)
| Team | Score | Overs | Wickets | Run Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Africa (batting) | 41 | 5.5 | 3 | 7.03 |
| India (yet to bat) | – | – | – | – |
🧍 Batter Stats
| Batter | Runs | Balls | 4s | 6s | Strike Rate |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| David Miller* | 18 | 9 | 4 | 0 | 200.00 |
| Dewald Brevis | 4 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 80.00 |
| Not out |
🧤 Bowling Figures
| Bowler | Overs | Runs | Wickets | Economy |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arshdeep Singh | 2.5 | 22 | 1 | 7.80 |
| Varun Chakaravarthy | 1 | 11 | 0 | 11.00 |
📉 Recent Wickets
- Ryan Rickelton c Shivam Dube b Jasprit Bumrah — 7 (7) (SA 20/3 in 3.6 ov)
- Aiden Markram c Hardik Pandya b Arshdeep Singh — 4 (7)
- Quinton de Kock b Jasprit Bumrah — 6 (8)
(Partnership for 4th wicket: 21 runs)
🔥 Match Highlights So Far
🎯 India’s Bowling On Top
India’s bowlers struck early under floodlights. Jasprit Bumrah rattled the South African top order, removing one of their mainstays Quinton de Kock in the opening overs and later dismissing Ryan Rickelton, keeping the Proteas reeling.
Left-arm quick Arshdeep Singh provided a crucial second breakthrough by dismissing captain Aiden Markram, giving India a strong grip in the powerplay.
📊 South Africa in Trouble
At the end of the powerplay, South Africa were 41/3 — the first time they lost three top-order wickets inside six overs in this edition. A stern recovery is needed from David Miller and Dewald Brevis to rebuild the innings and post a challenging total against India’s disciplined bowling unit.
📍 Context & Stakes
This Super 8 Group 1 match carries huge significance:
- India, defending champions and favorites, have been consistent in tournament domination so far.
- A win here strengthens India’s chances for a semi-final berth, while a South African victory would shake up the group standings dramatically.
- Both teams displayed unbeaten records earlier in the Super 8 stage, fueling intense anticipation among fans and pundits alike.
🧠 Post-Match Expectations & Key Battles
Once South Africa completes their innings, India’s batting lineup featuring aggressive performers like Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, and captain Suryakumar Yadav are expected to chase adeptly on this surface.
Meanwhile, South Africa’s challenge will be to recover from early losses and build a defendable score through partnerships — a key tactical battle in the upcoming phases of the match.
🧠 Match Prediction Scenario
If South Africa post under 160, India’s strong batting lineup — led by Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya — would back themselves to chase comfortably.
However, if Miller and Stubbs build a partnership, momentum could quickly shift.
📺 Where to Watch
- Star Sports Network / JioHotstar — India broadcast
- SuperSport / ICC.tv — International streaming platforms
- Highlights and live commentary streams available through official ICC channels.
