The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026’s two most dominant forces collide in a blockbuster Super 8 encounter on Sunday, February 22, at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium.
India and South Africa, both unbeaten in the league stage, renew their rivalry at 7:00 PM local time. Suryakumar Yadav’s India carries a perfect 12-0 T20 World Cup record since 2024, while Aiden Markram’s South Africa seeks revenge for their Barbados final defeat.
Despite India’s dominance, concerns linger over Abhishek Sharma’s three consecutive ducks, though captain Suryakumar has emphatically backed his struggling opener. The Motera pitch assists swing bowling under lights, adding tactical intrigue to this championship-caliber showdown.
India vs South Africa Match Information & Schedule
India vs South Africa 43rd Match Facts
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Match | IND vs RSA, 43rd Match, Super 8 Group 1 (X1 v X4) |
| Tournament | ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 |
| Date | Sunday, February 22, 2026 |
| Time | 7:00 PM LOCAL, 1:30 PM GMT |
| Venue | Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad |
India vs South Africa Betting Odds & Market Analysis
Despite India’s superior head-to-head record and home advantage, bookmakers recognize South Africa’s formidable quality and recent peaking form, keeping this contest competitively priced.
| Platform | India Win Odds | South Africa Win Odds | Toss Odds (India) | Toss Odds (South Africa) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1xBet | 1.62 | 2.35 | 1.9 | 1.9 |
| Stake | 1.65 | 2.3 | 1.91 | 1.89 |
| 4RABET | 1.61 | 2.38 | 1.88 | 1.92 |
| BetVibe | 1.63 | 2.33 | 1.9 | 1.9 |
India vs South Africa Probable Playing XIs
Both nations have named their strongest available lineups for this crucial Super 8 encounter between the tournament’s premier sides.
India Probable XI
Suryakumar Yadav (c), Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan (wk), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh
South Africa Probable XI
Aiden Markram (c), Quinton de Kock (wk), Ryan Rickelton, Dewald Brevis, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Corbin Bosch, Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi
Narendra Modi Stadium Pitch Report & Playing Conditions
The world’s largest cricket stadium, with its iconic 132,000 capacity, features a slow black-soil pitch that assists swing bowling significantly during opening overs under lights.
Pitch Report of Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Pitch Behaviour | The black-soil surface characteristically plays slow with significant assistance for swing bowling during the first two overs under lights. Movement is more pronounced in second innings. |
| Batting Assistance | Initial patience is required as the ball swings. Hitting square of the wicket often presents a safer percentage option than going straight during swing-friendly phases. |
| Bowling Assistance | Fast bowlers extract substantial swing movement during powerplay overs, particularly under lights. Spinners gain increased effectiveness as matches progress on the slowing surface. |
| Boundaries Dimensions | The massive stadium features longer boundaries compared to most venues, demanding powerful hitting to clear ropes. |
| Average 1st Innings Score | Teams batting first average approximately 173 runs in T20 matches at this venue. |
| Toss Impact & Conditions | Teams winning the toss have historically preferred batting first, winning 10 of 15 T20 matches. Night conditions create pronounced swing that significantly impacts opening batsmen. |
India vs South Africa Weather Forecast
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Temperature | Comfortable conditions at 33°C for the evening fixture. |
| Weather | Clear, sunny skies anticipated throughout the match. |
| Precipitation | Zero rain probability with 0% precipitation forecast. |
| Humidity | Low humidity at 22% providing comfortable playing conditions. |
| Wind | Gentle breeze at 6 km/h offering minimal assistance to bowlers. |
India vs South Africa T20I Head-to-Head Record
India holds commanding superiority in this bilateral rivalry spanning nearly two decades of T20 International cricket.
India and South Africa Head-to-Head in T20Is (2006-2025)
| Team | Matches Played | Won | Lost | Win Percentage |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| India | 35 | 21 | 13 | 61.76% |
| South Africa | 35 | 13 | 21 | 38.23% |
Recent Form: Data Sourced from IPL Prediction Website
- T20 World Cup Record: India 5-2 South Africa
- Since Barbados 2024 Final: India 7-2 South Africa
- India’s T20 WC Record Since 2024: 12-0 (Perfect)
- South Africa’s T20 WC Record Since 2024: 12-1 (Only loss: Barbados final vs India)
India vs South Africa Key Players & Statistics
| Players | T20 WC 2026 / Career Stats |
|---|---|
| Ishan Kishan (IND) | 158 runs in 3 WC innings (2nd-highest scorer), aggressive 77 vs Pakistan with 27-ball fifty |
| Suryakumar Yadav (IND) | 162 runs in 4 WC matches (highest 84 vs USA). Career: 3,126 runs in 106 T20Is, average 37.66 |
| Varun Chakaravarthy (IND) | 9 wickets in 4 WC matches. 22 wickets in 8 games vs SA (last two series), Player of Series Dec 2025 |
| Aiden Markram (RSA) | 178 runs in 4 WC matches. Successful opener transition, 445 runs for LSG in IPL 2025 |
| Quinton de Kock (RSA) | Key to SA’s Powerplay dominance (most explosive team in phase). Experienced wicketkeeper-batsman |
| Lungi Ngidi (RSA) | 8 wickets in 3 WC matches. Spearheads South Africa’s pace attack |
India vs South Africa Live Streaming & TV Broadcasting Guide
Cricket fans worldwide can witness this blockbuster Super 8 encounter through these official broadcasting partners and streaming platforms:
| Region | TV Broadcaster | Streaming Platform |
|---|---|---|
| India | Star Sports | JioHotstar |
| Nepal | Kantipur TV, Nepal Television | ICC.tv |
| Italy | — | ICC.tv |
| Pakistan | PTV Sports, Ten Sports, ASports | Myco, Tapmad, Tamasha |
| United Kingdom | Sky Sports | Sky Go, NOW |
| USA & Canada | Willow TV | Willow by Cricbuzz |
| Australia | Fox Cricket, Nine Network | Amazon Prime Video, Kayo |
| New Zealand | Sky Sport NZ | Sky Go, TVNZ+ |
| South Africa | SuperSport | SuperSport App, DStv |
| Sri Lanka | TV Supreme, Dialog TV | ICC.tv, Sirasa TV |
| Rest of World | Varies by country | ICC.tv |
