India and South Africa face each other in Match 43 of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 Super Eight stage at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, on February 22. Both sides arrive with unbeaten momentum from the group phase, making this an early-defining fixture in Group 1.
India progressed with a flawless run in the opening round, displaying control with both bat and ball. South Africa, meanwhile, emerged strongly from a competitive group, showcasing depth in pace bowling and flexibility in their batting order.
With knockout qualification at stake, this encounter could shape the trajectory of the Super Eight standings.
Match Details IND vs SA T20 World Cup 2026
- Match: India vs South Africa Match 43
- Stage: Super Eight – Group 1
- Date: February 22, 2026
- Time: 7:00 PM IST
- Venue: Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
- Format: ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026
Pitch Report – Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
The Ahmedabad surface has generally supported aggressive stroke play under lights. While the black-soil track can slow slightly as the innings progresses, power-hitters have found value once set.
- First-innings scores around 180–195 have been competitive
- Seamers benefit from early movement with the new ball
- Variation in pace is crucial during middle overs
- Dew could influence chasing strategy
Captains may prefer to bowl first depending on conditions at toss time.
Head-to-Head in T20Is
- Matches Played: 35
- India Wins: 21
- South Africa Wins: 13
- No Result: 1
India hold a narrow historical advantage in overall meetings, although recent encounters have been closely fought.
Predicted Playing XIs
India:
Ishan Kishan (wk), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah.
South Africa:
Aiden Markram (c), Quinton de Kock (wk), Ryan Rickelton, Dewald Brevis, Tristan Stubbs, David Miller, Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi.
Key Players to Watch
India
- Ishan Kishan – Strong starts in powerplay
- Suryakumar Yadav – Tactical flexibility in middle overs
- Jasprit Bumrah – Control in high-pressure overs
- Varun Chakravarthy – Impact through variation
South Africa
Aiden Markram – Anchor and aggressor
Quinton de Kock – Experience in big matches
Kagiso Rabada – Strike option with new ball
Match Prediction
Both teams are well-balanced, but India’s familiarity with Ahmedabad conditions, combined with their spin-bowling control and finishing depth, gives them a slight advantage.
Predicted Winner: India
A disciplined bowling display and calculated middle-order acceleration could tilt the contest in India’s favour in what promises to be a high-quality Super Eight showdown.
