🏏ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026: S 8 - M43: India vs South Afrika🏏 - Page 2

With the game happening at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, India are likely to retain their combination of four pacers and two spinners, meaning Kuldeep Yadav is set to miss out.

Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh are likely to lead the pace attack, with Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube the pace-bowling all-rounders. Varun Chakravarthy and Axar Patel are set to be the spin-bowling options.

Originally posted by: Viswasruti

🏏ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026: Super 8 - M43: India vs South Afrika🏏

Who are these two

Originally posted by: SlatePencil

Who are these two

Originally posted by: Viswasruti

Supposed to be Suryakumar Yadav and Markram! It must be AI's mischief!

India, South Africa meet in the final before the final

A blockbuster to kick off Group 1 will see two teams, familiar with the Ahmedabad conditions, clash on a black-soil pitch

Big picture: Newest rivalry in town

Some are calling this the final before the final. India were the clear favourites anyway, and South Africa have emerged unbeaten from the toughest group of the draw. Their easy win against New Zealand has sent warning signs.

A budding rivalry that began with the last T20 World Cup final, which South Africa lost despite bossing it for 35 overs, continued as they had their own back with a Test whitewash of India in India.

Throw in high stakes. This is no longer a match in which only India stand to lose something although they will not want to be the XI that breaks India's winning streak of 12 at T20 World Cups. South Africa stand to lose a lot as well.

You lose this match, and the remaining two become must-wins but not a guarantee to make the semi-finals. It is a blockbuster start to the Group 1 Super Eight round. South Africa have been used to the Ahmedabad conditions having played three of their four matches there. India don't need any more familiarity with Ahmedabad as every important match of any series or tournament invariably ends up there.

The last such game was the last T20I in the series against South Africa where India overcame the toss and buried South Africa by piling 231 runs. At that time, South Africa didn't have any idea what their best XI looked like. Now they will hope to put up a much better fight against the all-conquering Indian side.

Form guide

India WWWWWL (last five completed T20Is, most recent first)

South Africa WWWWL

In the spotlight: Ishan Kishan and Aiden Markram

The two openers have been setting the tournament alight. Not long ago neither of them was opening. Ishan Kishan is a bolter thanks to his performance in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. In December when South Africa last played India in Ahmedabad, Aiden Markramwas batting at No. 5. Now they are the leading openers of the tournament having aggregated in 170s at nearly two a ball. A lot of time will be spent on them in the respective strategy meetings.

Stats and trivia

• India hold a 5-2 head-to-head record against South Africa in T20 World Cups.
• Nobody has scored more ducks for India in a calendar year than Abhishek Sharma's five. Three of them have come in this World Cup.

Do India need to split their top three?

Assuming India go in with Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan and Tilak Varma as their top three, South Africa can handcuff them with offspin, as most teams have done against them this World Cup. So should they separate their top three? Should Suryakumar Yadav walk in at No. 3?

Ngidi's slower balls

4Wickets Ngidi has taken from the 22 slower balls he has bowled this World Cup

Lungi Ngidi has bowled slower balls with a high frequency and plenty of success: 30% slower balls for an economy of 4.9 and four out of his eight wickets in this tournament. His slower ones have been different to the ones in vogue: loopy full ones that tend to dip, and not the into-the-pitch ones in vogue. He has bowled 25 slower balls that are either in the slot or full tosses, but has conceded just 17 off them and taken three wickets. If India can watch out for them, there could be scoring opportunities in them as they can be picked from the release unlike the knuckle balls. However, on a black soil pitch, Ngidi will bank on low bounce and continue to bowl these even with the new ball.

Originally posted by: SoniRita

Shouldnt it say South Africa Madhu di? Sorry for nitpicking