Who: India vs South Africa
What: T20 World Cup Tremendous Eights
The place: Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, India
When: Sunday, February 22, at 7pm (13:30 GMT)
Find out how to observe: We’ll have all of the buildup on Al Jazeera Sport from 10:30 GMT upfront of our textual content commentary stream.
Defending champions and match co-hosts India start their Tremendous Eights part on Sunday towards the staff they defeated within the 2024 remaining, South Africa.
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Each side stormed via the group stage of the 2026 version and look heavy favourites to at the very least attain the semifinals, with the Indians clear favourites to carry the trophy as soon as once more.
Al Jazeera Sport takes a take a look at essentially the most mouth-watering match-up of two of the heavy contenders for the crown to date on the match.
India gunning for South Africa’s high order
India’s bowlers will goal early wickets towards South Africa, mentioned bowling coach Morne Morkel on Friday.
“We all know that their high order provides them that momentum, with Quinton (de Kock) and Aiden (Markram) up entrance in good type and hitting the ball very nicely,” mentioned the previous South Africa fast bowler Morkel.
“We will certainly put our greatest foot ahead to try to get these early wickets.”
How did India attain the T20 World Cup Tremendous Eights?
India stormed their group to assert high spot with 4 wins from 4. A barely nervous begin towards USA was adopted by a thumping 93-run win towards Namibia.
The sport everybody had their eyes on was the most recent pairing with rivals Pakistan, which resulted in a 61-run win, whereas the ultimate recreation noticed the Netherlands fall solely 17 runs short of their 194 goal.
How did South Africa attain the T20 World Cup Tremendous Eights?
South Africa opened their match with a 57-run win towards Canada, however wanted a Tremendous Over to substantiate their win towards Afghanistan of their second match.
New Zealand got a thumping by the Proteas, who claimed a seven-wicket win to substantiate their passage to the Tremendous Eights with a recreation to spare, earlier than finishing the group with a six-wicket win towards the UAE.
India count on Abhishek to return to type quickly
Whereas Markram’s South Africa have regarded sturdy in all departments, match favourites India haven’t loved batting consistency, with opener Abhishek Sharma out of shape. Morkel, although, predicts he shall be again among the many runs quickly.
Morkel mentioned the left-hander, who has recorded three consecutive geese, was only one innings away from getting again within the zone.
“Completely no dialogue in our staff group about that,” mentioned Morkel about Abhishek’s failure to attain in any of the matches but.
“He’s a world-class participant. We’re going to an important part of the World Cup now and I’m certain he’s going to ship.
“I’m fairly certain he’s hitting the ball within the nets.
“It’s only a matter of getting the beginning and getting the innings going.”
Can South Africa be the staff to cease India on the T20 World Cup?
Morkel acknowledged South Africa have been one of many type groups of the T20 World Cup to date.
“They’re a staff that’s filled with confidence,” mentioned Morkel.
“They have guys on the high who’re in type. By way of weaknesses, there aren’t many.”
South Africa have additionally proven guts when wanted, popping out victorious after two nerve-shredding tremendous overs towards Afghanistan.
“For us it comes down, on the day, to how nicely we execute with the bat and the ball,” mentioned Morkel of defending champions India.
“It’s going to be world-class gamers towards one another. It will be a mouth-watering factor.”
What’s India’s file in T20 World Cup cricket?
Not solely are India the defending champions after their victory towards South Africa on the 2024 version, however they’re additionally the joint-record winners of the T20 World Cup.
The Indian facet received their inaugural occasion in 2007, beating Pakistan within the remaining, however that made for a protracted wait for his or her second win on the final version.
England and the West Indies have each additionally recorded two match wins.
What’s South Africa’s file in T20 World Cup cricket?
South Africa nonetheless await their first T20 World Cup title. Actually, the wait goes on for the Proteas to carry any trophy at a significant ICC match.
Their seven-run defeat by the hands of India within the 2024 version was their first look in a remaining of both a T20 World Cup or a 50-over Cricket World Cup.
South Africa make shock wholesale T20 adjustments for future tour
South Africa have named a much-changed squad that features 5 uncapped gamers for their five-match Twenty20 tour of New Zealand subsequent month, forsaking a lot of the staff which have certified for the Tremendous Eights on the ongoing World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.
Batters Connor Esterhuizen, Dian Forrester and Jordan Hermann, all-rounder Eathan Bosch and teenage seamer Nqobani Mokoena will all hope to make their worldwide debuts on the tour.
Hermann is the youthful brother of Rubin, who can also be in the squad and has been capped in One Day Internationals and T20 matches for South Africa, whereas Bosch is the youthful sibling of Corbin, who has impressed on the World Cup.
The facet shall be captained by spinner Keshav Maharaj, with a return for seamers Gerald Coetzee, Lutho Sipamla and Ottneil Baartman.
Three gamers from the present World Cup squad will tour: Maharaj, spinner George Linde and all-rounder Jason Smith.
“With this collection happening straight after the T20 World Cup, nearly all of that squad will return dwelling, which creates a nice alternative for this group of gamers to step into the worldwide surroundings and present what they’re about at this degree,” South Africa coach Shukri Conrad mentioned.
The five-match collection shall be performed between March 15 and 25.
Head-to-head
This would be the thirty sixth assembly between the perimeters in T20 internationals. India have received 21 of the matches, whereas South Africa have claimed victory on 13 events with one no consequence/abandonment.
Predicted India staff:
Ishan Kishan (wk), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh
Predicted South Africa staff:
Quinton de Kock (wk), Aiden Markram (c), Dewald Brevis, Tristan Stubbs, David Miller, Ryan Rickelton, Marco Jansen, George Linde, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Keshav Maharaj
