India set for first Super 8 clash vs South Africa:Can Abhishek Sharma overcome duck-curse in rematch of 2024 final?

After topping the group stage with wins against associate nations like the USA and the Netherlands and beating arch-rivals Pakistan, India have entered the Super 8 stage of the T20 World Cup, with South Africa as their first opponent. The showdown is set to take place today at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, starting at 7:00 PM IST. Like Men in Blue, South Africa are unbeaten so far in the tournament. The only time they have faltered in the group stage was against Afghanistan, where the result was decided through the second Super Over. After tying the first Super Over, South Africa scored 23 runs in the over and defended it successfully, dismissing Rahmanullah Gurbaz on the last ball. This is set to be a rematch of the 2024 T20 World Cup final, which saw India defeat South Africa by seven runs to clinch the title. The last time India and South Africa met in a T20I game was coincidentally in Ahmedabad, where Tilak Varma (73) and Hardik Pandya (63) went on a rampage. While chasing a 231-run total, Quinton de Kock put up a fight with his quickfire 65, but the lower order collapsed as the Proteas managed 201 runs in 20 overs. However, the trio of Corbin Bosch, Lungi Ngidi, and Kagiso Rabada have impressed for South Africa in this T20 World Cup. One of South Africa’s most convincing wins was against New Zealand, whom they beat by seven wickets while chasing down 178 in 17.1 overs. With the bat, Aiden Markram (178) is even above Ishan Kishan (176) in terms of scoring. Meanwhile, among wicket-takers, Varun Chakaravarthy is on top with nine wickets as the Super 8 begins. For South Africa, Lungi Ngidi is among the top 10 bowlers with eight wickets. So, in terms of bowling prowess, the Indian team holds the edge, but it’ll be worth watching if the batting department can still make an impact with Abhishek Sharma at the helm. Also read: Struggling Abhishek Sharma vs Keshav Maharaj, Miller’s rematch against Hardik: 5 battles that could decide IND vs SA clash Match Details: Match: India vs South Africa T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8 game Date: 22nd February, 2026 Time: 7:00 PM IST Toss Time: 6:30 PM IST Venue: Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad Where to watch: Star Sports network (broadcasting), JioHotstar (streaming) and Bhaskar English app. India vs South Africa Head-To-Head Overall, in terms of the T20 World Cup, Men in Blue have the upper hand, winning five of the showdowns. In their last five fixtures, India has won three, South Africa won one, and one match was abandoned due to rain. The most recent meeting was a warm-up game where India won by 30 runs. Before that, India won comfortably in December 2025 by 7 wickets, but South Africa responded with a 51-run win in the same series. India’s top performers in T20 World Cup 2026 Ishan Kishan and Varun Chakaravarthy have been the top performers for India in this T20 World Cup so far. Ishan has smashed 176 runs in four matches with an astounding strike-rate of 202.29. Chakaravarthy, on the other hand, is the second-highest wicket-taker of the T20 World Cup so far, taking nine wickets in four matches with an economy rate of just 6.88. Also read: Suryakumar Yadav to play at number 3 ahead of Tilak: How can India’s top order counter off-spin weakness? South Africa’s top performers in T20 World Cup 2026 Captain Aiden Markram has been South Africa’s best batter in the T20 World Cup 2026 so far. In four matches, he has hit 178 runs with an impressive strike-rate of 187.36. With the ball, Lungi Ngidi has been South Africa’s best with eight wickets in three matches. Narendra Modi Stadium Pitch Report The pitch at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad has been predicted to be good for batting so far. Ahmedabad has produced the highest total of the games played in India, with South Africa’s 213/4 against Canada being the example. But in the last three games, teams batting first have not managed to cross the 200-run mark. So it seems that the pitch is a bit tacky, offering help to spinners that the Men in Blue are struggling against. Even in the last game, Shivam Dube’s power hitting led India to 193; otherwise, it could have been limited to around 175. So, against the quality spin and pace attack of South Africa, a total of around 180 will be a fighting one. Ahmedabad weather report It is expected to be a warm evening in Ahmedabad with temperatures ranging between 21°C and 36°C. There is no chance of overcast conditions or rain at the venue. However, wind gusts are expected to breeze at a speed of 26 km/h in the evening.