India are set to face South Africa in Match No. 43 of the T20 World Cup 2026 Super Eight clash (Group A) on February 22 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Both sides enter this high-voltage encounter unbeaten in the group stage, making it one of the most anticipated fixtures of the tournament.

The two teams last met in the final of the T20 World Cup 2024, adding extra intensity to this contest. With winning momentum on their side, both India and South Africa will be eager to continue their dominant run and strengthen their push toward the semi-finals.

Toss Update

South Africa captain Aiden Markram won the toss and elected to bat first, citing the dry nature of the pitch.

He mentioned that the surface looked much drier than expected and added that his side feels fortunate to have already played two games at the venue. India skipper Suryakumar Yadav, meanwhile, expressed confidence in his team’s approach. He said there was good energy in the camp and on the field, and emphasised that the team is prepared to accept whatever result comes their way.

Why did Axar Patel miss out on playing in India vs South Africa, Match 43?

Axar Patel misses out once again, similar to India’s previous group-stage clash against the Netherlands, as the team management has opted to stick with an unchanged XI.

Meanwhile, South Africa have made notable changes to strengthen their combination. Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi, Marco Jansen and David Miller came into the XI for the Super Eight clash.

What did the captains say? Aiden Markram, South Africa captain

We are going to bat first. It looks like a really good wicket - a lot drier than the previous one we came across here - so we’re not expecting that early tackiness. We think it’s going to be a good surface throughout, and hopefully we can put a nice big score on the board.

The boys are in good touch, which is always a blessing. We’re not taking that for granted, but it’s a good space to be in at the moment. The guys have been putting in a lot of work behind the scenes to maintain that form and confidence. We’ve been fortunate to play a couple of games here before. It’s a different wicket this time - black soil - but generally this is a high-scoring ground and an entertaining venue. As players, that’s what you look forward to being part of, and hopefully tonight is no different.

From the previous game, we’ve made four changes to go back to our usual XI - Keshav (Maharaj) comes back in, Lungi (Ngidi) comes back in, Marco (Jansen) comes back in, and David (Miller) comes back in as well.”

Suryakumar Yadav, India captain

I was actually looking to bat first, but it’s okay. We played here two or three days back and when they were bowling first, there was a little bit in the wicket, so why not take that advantage? It’s a big game, a great occasion for everyone to step up and show their character. It’s a full house tonight, hopefully, and we’ve got a good game for them.

It’s the business end now, so you’ve got to bring your A-game. We do have three league games, but you have to deliver that punch from ball one, and I think tonight is the right time. We’ll look to bring good energy on the field, follow our good habits, and take whatever result comes our way. The pitch looks quite similar to the previous black soil surface we played on, just one strip away, not too much change. We’re happy to bowl first. It’s very harsh on Axar Patel, but we’re going with the same team - just a tactical decision, so no changes from the last game.

IND vs SA: Playing XIs South Africa:

Aiden Markram(c), Quinton de Kock(w), Ryan Rickelton, Dewald Brevis, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi

India:

Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan(w), Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav(c), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Washington Sundar, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy