The stage is set for an exciting clash at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026, where India faces off against South Africa at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday, February 22. This match is not just about points; it’s a rematch of the 2024 T20 World Cup final. Both teams come in with unbeaten records from the group stage.
India has dominated, winning all four of their matches and leading Group A with eight points. South Africa matched their performance by winning all four games in Group D. Both teams are in strong form, raising anticipation for this encounter.
Axar Patel is expected to return for India, enhancing the team’s balance in both batting and bowling. The choice between Kuldeep Yadav and Arshdeep Singh remains a challenge for the management, as the Ahmedabad pitch may favor Arshdeep. For South Africa, key players David Miller, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, and Kagiso Rabada are likely to return to the lineup after resting.
Ishan Kishan has been a standout for India, scoring 176 runs in four innings, with Varun Chakravarthy taking nine wickets to stifle the opposition. South Africa’s captain Aiden Markram has set a strong example with his aggressive batting.
Narendra Modi Stadium Pitch Report, T20I Stats and Records
The Narendra Modi Stadium is known for being batter-friendly. The pitch typically allows for solid shot-making, with a reliable bounce. For this key match, a black-soil pitch has been prepared, known for its pace and capacity for high scores.
This pitch offers consistent bounce, encouraging aggressive batting. Fast bowlers may find some assistance in the initial overs, with carry and slight seam movement. Once the shine wears off, batting conditions should improve.
Spinners may not get much turn, especially later in the game when gripping the ball can become tough. The large outfield means well-hit shots might only score singles or twos, not always boundaries.
While the pitch may slow down as the match goes on, evening dew is expected to keep conditions balanced. Notably, this surface has changed over time, now favoring batters slightly more than before, setting up a competitive environment for scoring.
Narendra Modi Stadium T20I Stats and Records
- Matches played: 15
- Matches won batting first: 10
- Matches won bowling first: 5
- Average 1st innings score: 173
- Average 2nd innings score: 151
- Percentage of wickets taken by pacers: 68.75%
- Percentage of wickets taken by spinners: 31.25%
- Highest total recorded: 234/4 (20 Overs) by India vs New Zealand
- Lowest total recorded: 66/10 (12.1 Overs) by New Zealand vs India
- Highest score chased: 178/3 (17.1 Overs) by South Africa vs New Zealand
- Lowest score defended: 107/7 (20 Overs) by West Indies Women vs India Women
