The Super Eights clash of the T20 World Cup 2026 between India and South Africa will be played on February 22 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, with both teams arriving in strong form.
Defending champions India finished the group stage with four wins in a row and qualified for the Super Eights with immense confidence. They began with a closely contested 29-run victory over the USA, followed it up by beating Namibia by 93 runs, and then defeated arch-rivals, Pakistan, comprehensively. Their last league game against the Netherlands in the very same ground saw them clinch a narrow 17-run win.
New Zealand, too, won all four of its league games and finished first in its group. They opened with a 57-run win over Canada, then defeated Afghanistan in a double Super Over, followed up by edging past New Zealand comfortably, and defeated the UAE with ease.
Here are the top 3 player battles to watch out for in IND vs SA, T20 WC 2026
3. Quinton de Kock vs Varun Chakravarthy
The battle between Quinton de Kock and Varun Chakravarthy could play a decisive role when South Africa takes on India in the Super Eights of the T20 World Cup. In T20Is, the head-to-head numbers favour the spinner. Chakravarthy has bowled 10 deliveries to de Kock across two innings, conceding just 21 runs at an economy of 12.60 without picking up a wicket. While de Kock has played at a strike rate of 210 in this contest.
Both players enter the Super Eights in strong form. De Kock has looked solid since his return, scoring 59 against Afghanistan and playing a key hand at the top. Behind the stumps, his game awareness has stood out. On the other hand, Chakravarthy has been India’s strike bowler with nine wickets in four matches at an economy of 6.88.
| Matches | Innings | Runs Scored | Balls Bowled | Strike Rate | Economy Rate | Wicket Taken |
| 02 | 02 | 21 | 10 | 210.00 | 12.60 | 00 |
2. Aiden Markram vs Jasprit Bumrah
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The face-off between Aiden Markram and Jasprit Bumrah will be something every fan will be looking forward to during India-South Africa. In T20Is, Bumrah has had the better of this mini-battle. Across two innings, he has bowled 13 deliveries to Markram, conceding just 16 runs at an economy of 7.38 while dismissing him once.
Coming into the Super Eights, Bumrah has been typically reliable, picking up four wickets in the group stage while maintaining an economy of around six. Markram, meanwhile, remains central to South Africa’s batting and has also been sharpening his off-spin to counter India’s left-handers.
| Matches | Innings | Runs Scored | Balls Bowled | Strike Rate | Economy Rate | Wicket Taken |
| 02 | 02 | 16 | 13 | 123.07 | 7.38 | 00 |
1. Suryakumar Yadav vs Marco Jansen
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Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav and South African pacer Marco Jansen will be all set to go all-in against each other. In T20Is, Jansen has managed to keep Suryakumar quiet. Across six innings, the Indian captain has scored 17 runs off 20 balls against the left-arm pacer at a strike rate of 85, while being dismissed once.
However, Suryakumar enters the Super 8 in strong touch. He smashed an unbeaten 84* against the USA and followed it up with handy knocks of 32 and 34, leading India brilliantly. Overall, he has 406 T20I runs against South Africa at a strike rate of 156.15. On the other hand, Jansen is coming off career-best figures of 4/40 against New Zealand in Ahmedabad.
| Matches | Innings | Runs Scored | Balls Bowled | Strike Rate | Economy Rate | Wicket Taken |
| 06 | 06 | 17 | 20 | 85.00 | 5.10 | 01 |
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