The stage is set for a massive heavyweight clash at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad as India takes on South Africa in their opening Super 8 fixture of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026.
The match is a repeat of the 2024 final and serves as a critical battle for Group 1 dominance. Both teams enter the Super 8s with flawless 4-0 records from the group stage.
Broadcast & Live Streaming Details
- Match Date: Sunday, February 22, 2026
- Toss Time: 6:30 PM IST
- Match Start: 7:00 PM IST
- Venue: Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
- TV (India): Star Sports Network
- Digital Streaming (India): Jio Hotstar app and website
- Broadcast (South Africa): SuperSport TV and digital platforms
Pitch & Weather Report
- The Surface: The match will be played on a hybrid pitch (red and black soil mix). This is expected to be more batter-friendly than the black soil track used for India’s previous game against the Netherlands. Experts predict a 170–180 par score.
- Weather: Ideal for cricket. Skies are expected to be clear with temperatures around 27°C. Humidity is relatively low (~29%), so dew is unlikely to play a major factor for the bowlers in the second innings.
Predicted Playing XIs
India: The team management is reportedly debating between Tilak Varma and Sanju Samson. While Varma offers a left-handed option, Samson is being considered to counter South Africa’s spin-heavy middle overs.
Probable XI: Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan (wk), Tilak Varma/Sanju Samson, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakravarthy.
South Africa: The Proteas may look to exploit India’s left-hand heavy top order with their variety in spin.
Probable XI: Quinton de Kock (wk), Reeza Hendricks, Aiden Markram (c), Tristan Stubbs, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Kwena Maphaka/Ottneil Baartman.