WHO: India vs South Africa
what: T20 World Cup Super Eight
where: Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, India
when: Sunday, February 22nd at 7pm (13:30 GMT)
How to follow: We’ll be bringing you all the details on Al Jazeera Sport from 10.30am (GMT) ahead of the text commentary stream.
Defending champions and tournament co-hosts India begin the Super Eight phase on Sunday against the South African team they defeated in the 2024 final.
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Both sides broke through the group stage in 2026 and looked like heavy favorites to at least progress to the semi-finals, while the Indians looked like clear favorites to lift the trophy once again.
Al Jazeera Sport takes a look at the most mouth-watering clash between two rivals in the tournament so far as they battle it out for the crown.
India aims for top order in South Africa
India’s bowling team will target early wickets against South Africa, bowling coach Morne Morkel said on Friday.
“We know their top order gives them momentum, with Quinton (de Kock) and Aiden (Markram) up front in good form and hitting the ball very well,” said former South African quick bowler Morkel.
“We will do our best to get early wickets.”
How did India reach the Super Eight of the T20 World Cup?
India won 4 out of 4 matches and took first place in the group. A slightly shaky start against the United States was followed by a resounding 93-point win over Namibia.
The match that everyone was paying attention to was the recent 61-run win against rivals Pakistan, and in the last match, the Netherlands fell just 17 runs short of their target of 194 runs.
How did South Africa make it to the T20 World Cup Super Eight?
South Africa started the tournament with a 57-run win over Canada, but needed a Super Over to confirm victory against Afghanistan in the second match.
New Zealand suffered a major shock to the Proteas, who claimed a seven-wicket win to confirm their place in the Super Eights with a game to spare before completing the group with a six-wicket win over UAE.
India expect Abhishek to return to form soon.
Markram’s South Africa were strong in all categories, but tournament winners India did not enjoy batting consistency, with opener Abhishek Sharma underperforming. But Morkel predicts he will be playing again soon.
Morkel said the left-hander, who recorded three straight ducks, had just one inning left before he was back in the zone.
“We haven’t discussed that at all in our team group,” Morkel said about Abhishek not scoring in any match yet.
“He is a world-class player. We are now entering a very important phase of the World Cup and I am confident he will deliver.”
“I’m sure he’s hitting the ball into the net.
“It’s just a matter of starting and getting the innings going.”
Can South Africa be the team to stop India in the T20 World Cup?
Morkel admitted that South Africa have been one of the form teams of the T20 World Cup so far.
“They’re a confident team,” Morkel said.
“They have players in form at the top. In terms of weaknesses, there aren’t many.”
South Africa also showed courage when needed, winning against Afghanistan after two close super overs.
“For us, it’s about how well we use the bat and ball on the day,” said Morkel of defending champions India.
“We’ll have world-class athletes competing against each other. It’s going to be mouth-watering.”
What is India’s record in T20 World Cup cricket?
India are not only the defending champions after their win over South Africa in 2024, but are also joint-record winners of the T20 World Cup.
Team India won the first edition in 2007, beating Pakistan in the final, but this forced them to wait a long time for their second win in the last edition.
England and West Indies also recorded two tournament wins.
What is South Africa’s record in T20 World Cup cricket?
South Africa are still waiting to win their first T20 World Cup. In fact, we keep waiting for the Proteas to lift the trophy in a major ICC tournament.
The 7-run loss against India in 2024 was his first appearance in a T20 World Cup or 50-over Cricket World Cup final.
South Africa make surprise T20 changes for upcoming tours.
South Africa have named a significantly altered squad that includes five uncapped players for next month’s five-match Twenty20 tour of New Zealand, leaving behind most of the squad that qualified for the Super Eights at the ongoing World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.
Batsmen Connor Esterhuizen, Dian Forrester , Jordan Hermann, all-rounder Eathan Bosch and teenage seamer Nqobani Mokoena are all hoping to make their international debuts on the tour.
Hermann is the younger brother of Rubin, who is part of the national team and has played in One Day Internationals and T20 matches for South Africa, while Bosch is the younger brother of Corbin, who has impressed in the World Cup.
The side is captained by spinner Keshav Maharaj and returns seamers Gerald Coetzee, Lutho Sipamla and Ottneil Baartman.
Three players from the current World Cup squad are participating in the tour. Maharaj, spinner George Linde and all-rounder Jason Smith.
“This series takes place immediately after the T20 World Cup, so the majority of that squad will be returning to their home country. It provides a great opportunity for this group of players to break into an international environment and show what they are made of at this level,” South Africa coach Shukri Conrad said.
The five-game series will run from March 15-25.
one to one
This will be the 36th meeting between the two sides in T20 international competitions. India has won 21 matches, while South Africa has 13 wins and one draw/dismissal.
Expected Indian Team:
Ishan Kishan (c), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh.
Predicted South African teams:
Quinton de Kock (Ltd), Aiden Markram (Ltd), Dewald Brevis, Tristan Stubbs, David Miller, Ryan Rickelton, Marco Jansen, George Linde, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Keshav Maharaj
