Table Of Contents
Remember that crazy 2024 T20 World Cup Final in Barbados? Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, and Arshdeep Singh totally nailed it with their bowling at the end and grabbed the trophy from South Africa. Well, get ready because the next big thing is here.
This Sunday, February 22, 2026, India, who are the champions, are playing South Africa in their first Super 8 game at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Both teams did great in the group stages without losing, so this Group 1 game is going to be the biggest match of the tournament so far.
Here's what you need before the match starts.
Both teams enter this fixture riding a massive wave of momentum:
Team India (4-0): Suryakumar Yadav’s men have looked formidable. After a slightly nervous opener against the USA, they found their groove, completely dismantling Namibia and securing a massive 61-run victory over arch-rivals Pakistan. They wrapped up their group stage by comfortably defending a total against the Netherlands.
South Africa (4-0): Aiden Markram’s squad has shown serious grit. They opened with a solid win over Canada, survived an absolutely nerve-shredding double Super Over against Afghanistan, and then thumped New Zealand by seven wickets to breeze into the Super 8s.
1. The Abhishek Sharma Dilemma It is the elephant in the room: India's explosive opener and the World No. 1 T20I batter, Abhishek Sharma, has recorded three consecutive ducks so far in this tournament. However, the Indian camp isn't panicking. Bowling coach Morne Morkel publicly backed him this week, stating it is "just a matter of getting the start" and that a massive innings is right around the corner. If he finds his rhythm on a flat Ahmedabad deck, South Africa is in trouble.
2. Ishan Kishan vs. The Proteas Pace Battery With Abhishek struggling, Ishan Kishan has stepped up in a monumental way. He is currently India’s leading run-scorer with 176 runs at a jaw-dropping strike rate of over 202. But waiting for him is a lethal South African pace trio. Lungi Ngidi, Marco Jansen, and Corbin Bosch have been terrifyingly good, combining for 20 wickets already in the tournament. How Kishan handles the new ball against Jansen's swing will dictate the powerplay.
3. The Spin Chokehold: Varun Chakravarthy Varun Chakravarthy has been India’s silent assassin, leading the tournament charts with 9 wickets at a brilliant economy rate. South Africa's top order featuring Quinton de Kock and Aiden Markram loves pace, but how they navigate Chakravarthy's mystery spin in the middle overs will be the ultimate chess match.
Welcome to a batting paradise. The Narendra Modi Stadium is famous for high-scoring thrillers, boasting an average first-innings score of 173. Because of the sheer size of the boundaries, batters who can pierce the gaps will be rewarded heavily.
The Weather: Fans can breathe easy there is zero chance of rain. Expect a hot evening with temperatures hovering around 36°C and clear skies.
The Toss: Given it’s a 7:00 PM start, the "dew factor" under the lights might tempt the captain who wins the toss to bowl first and chase down a target on a sliding pitch.
India (Predicted): Ishan Kishan (wk), Abhishek Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Sanju Samson/Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh. (Note: Axar Patel is expected to return after being rested, likely replacing Washington Sundar).
South Africa (Predicted): Quinton de Kock (wk), Ryan Rickelton, Aiden Markram (c), Tristan Stubbs, David Miller, Dewald Brevis, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Corbin Bosch, Lungi Ngidi.
CURRENT SERIESMore Links
MATCH PREDICTION
