"We were also looking to bat first, good occasion for everyone to come up and show what we have got. We have good energy on the field and we will take the result whatever comes our way. Happy to bowl first. Very harsh on Axar Patel, we are going with the same team. So no changes," said India captain Suryakumar Yadav.

"We gonna bat first, really a good wicket and lot drier than what we have seen. The boys are looking in good touch and it's a good place to be at the moment. We have been fortunate to play a couple of games here, this is black soil pitch. We have made 4 changes from the previous game. Kesh, Lungi and Marco come back in," said South Africa captain Aiden Markram.

The Proteas made four changes, roping in David Miller, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj and Lungi Ngidi for Jason Smith, George Linde, Anrich Nortje and Kewna Maphaka.

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

South Africa (Playing XI): 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.

South Africa captain Aiden Markram has won the toss and opted to bat against India in their T20 World Cup Super Eight match in Ahmedabad. During the toss, India captain Suryakumar Yadav revealed they too wanted to bat first.

England defeated Sri Lanka by 51 runs in their T20 World Cup 2026 Super Eight Group 2 match in Pallekele, Sri Lanka. The Three Lions posted 146 for 9 batting first and then bundled out the Lankans for 95.

We are just 11 minutes away from the toss. The team that wins it would likely opt to bowl first, as per the usual T20I trend on Indian pitches. Either way, expect a high-scoring encounter tonight!

India opener Abhishek Sharma has fallen to off-spinners twice in a row. It will be interesting to see whether South Africa skipper Aiden Markram decides to bowl off-breaks in the Powerplay. If he does, what will be Abhishek’s approach?

Notably, Abhishek has been dismissed six times by off-spinners in T20I cricket. His average is 22, and his strike rate is 150 against such bowlers.

India have won four out of the four games this edition, but they have not given their best. They have not exactly been asked probing questions at the group league stage but the home favourites are well aware that their batting has left a lot to be desired. Save for opener Ishan Kishan (two fifties and strike rate of 202), the other three batters in the top four haven't exactly set the stage on fire till now.

This will be the sixth T20I between India and South Africa in the last three months. They played a five-match series in December last year, which the Suryakumar Yadav-led side won 3–1. One contest was abandoned due to bad weather conditions. Their players are familiar with each other’s recent games, and the newness factor will not be there.

South Africa boast of a formidable bowling line-up comprising Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj and Aiden Markram and defending champions India will be mindful of the challenge. Their batting is going to be tested for sure!

India Predicted XI: Suryakumar Yadav (c), Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan (wk), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh.

South Africa Predicted XI: Aiden Markram (c), Quinton de Kock (wk), Ryan Rickelton, Dewald Brevis, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Corbin Bosch, Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi.

As per AccuWeather, there are no chances of rain during the India vs South Africa game in Ahmedabad tonight!

India captain Suryakumar Yadav was quite confident about Abhishek Sharma while speaking on the eve of the game against South Africa. “I worry for the people who are worried about Abhishek’s form, I worry about them. Last year he covered for us, now we will cover for him,” the skipper said in the press conference.

India Squad: Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan (w), Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Washington Sundar, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy, Sanju Samson, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Mohammed Siraj.

South Africa Squad: Aiden Markram (c), Quinton de Kock (w), Ryan Rickelton, Dewald Brevis, Tristan Stubbs, Jason Smith, George Linde, Corbin Bosch, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Kwena Maphaka, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Keshav Maharaj, Marco Jansen.

Abhishek Sharma, the number one T20I batter, came into the T20 World Cup with a big reputation. The stats and the impact of his performances spoke volumes about his potential. However, the entire story flipped for him in the first three games of the mega event, as the southpaw registered three consecutive ducks. As Abhishek continues to search for his first run in the tournament, his form will surely be in focus tonight.

Hello everyone, welcome to the live blog of the India vs South Africa T20 World Cup Super Eight match. The contest will take place at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, tonight. Stay connected for the live score and updates of the game!