West Indies and South Africa collide in a blockbuster Super Eight Group 1 clash at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on February 26, 2026. Both sides arrive unbeaten in the tournament, making this one of the most anticipated matches of the Super Eights stage.
A South Africa win would seal their semi-final spot, while a West Indies victory would throw Group 1 wide open ahead of India’s crunch game against Zimbabwe later the same evening. The stakes could not be higher.
West Indies vs South Africa Match Preview
South Africa has been the most dominant side of the tournament so far, their only scare coming when they needed two Super Overs to see off Afghanistan in their second group game.
Aiden Markram’s side then delivered a stunning performance to hammer India at this very venue on Sunday, and will arrive brimming with confidence. Marco Jansen has been extraordinary with the ball, and the batting unit has firepower from top to bottom.
West Indies, however, are equally unbeaten and equally dangerous. Shimron Hetmyer has been one of the tournament’s most destructive batters, Jason Holder has been explosive in the lower order, and Gudakesh Motie and Matthew Forde have formed a formidable bowling partnership.
As West Indies’ batting coach Floyd Reifer put it, “It’s about understanding what needs to be done and executing.” With both teams at full strength and full of belief, the closest contest of the Super Eights may just be upon us.
WI vs RSA Super 8 Match Details
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Match | West Indies vs South Africa, 47th Match, Super 8 Group 1 |
| Date | 26 February 2026 |
| Time | 3:00 PM Local / 9:30 AM GMT |
| Venue | Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, India |
| Series | ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 |
| Context | Super Eights Group 1; both sides are unbeaten in the tournament |
WI vs RSA Super 8 Match Squads
South Africa: Aiden Markram (c), Quinton de Kock (wk), Ryan Rickelton, Dewald Brevis, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi, George Linde, Anrich Nortje, Kwena Maphaka, Jason Smith
West Indies: Brandon King, Shai Hope (c & wk), Shimron Hetmyer, Rovman Powell, Sherfane Rutherford, Romario Shepherd, Jason Holder, Matthew Forde, Akeal Hosein, Gudakesh Motie, Shamar Joseph, Quentin Sampson, Jayden Seales, Roston Chase, Johnson Charles
Pitch Report
Ahmedabad pitches have offered very little turn during this tournament, limiting the impact of spinners. Crucially, the afternoon start at 3:00 PM IST means dew will not be a factor, keeping conditions consistent across both innings. Teams batting first hold a strong historical edge here, having won 11 of 16 T20Is at this ground.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Pitch Type | Red soil; seam-friendly with good carry |
| Average 1st Innings T20 Score | 174 |
| Pace vs Spin | Seamers dominate; minimal spin assistance in this tournament |
| Toss Factor | Batting first holds a strong historical edge; no dew at 3 PM |
| Ground Dimensions | World’s largest cricket stadium; 132,000 capacity |
Weather Report
Ahmedabad offers ideal cricket conditions on match day, with sunny skies and a precipitation risk of just 0%. Temperatures will hover around 28 degrees Celsius during the afternoon, with low humidity of 35% and light winds of 6 km/h. There is no threat of rain or interruption whatsoever, and a full 40-over contest is all but guaranteed. Both sides will be able to plan their strategies without any weather-related uncertainty.
| Condition | Details |
|---|---|
| Temperature | Around 28 degrees Celsius during match hours |
| Sky | Sunny and clear |
| Rain Chance | 0% – no risk of interruption |
| Humidity | 35% – low and comfortable |
| Overall | Perfect playing conditions; a full match is guaranteed |
Toss Prediction
With teams batting first winning 11 of 16 T20Is at the Narendra Modi Stadium and no dew expected at a 3:00 PM start, both captains will fancy their chances of posting a total and defending it. The red soil pitch is expected to offer early seam movement, which could make chasing slightly more difficult once the new ball loses its shine. The captain winning the toss is likely to elect to bat first and put a challenging total on the board.
Injury Updates
South Africa: No major injury concerns have been reported. Markram is expected to name the same XI that dismantled India at this venue on Sunday.
West Indies: No major injury concerns have been reported. Hope is expected to field an unchanged side from the team that beat Zimbabwe at the Wankhede on Monday.
Dream11 Team For WI vs SA
Key Players
| Player | Team | Stats | Key Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shimron Hetmyer | WI | 219 runs in 5 matches; SR 185; 17 sixes | Second-highest run-scorer in the tournament; West Indies’ most destructive batter |
| Aiden Markram | RSA | 182 runs in 5 matches | South Africa’s captain and top-order anchor leads from the front consistently |
| Marco Jansen | RSA | 11 wickets in 4 matches | Tournament’s standout bowler; a nightmare for any batting lineup |
| Gudakesh Motie | WI | 10 wickets in 5 matches | Third-highest wicket-taker in the tournament; West Indies’ spin spearhead |
West Indies vs South Africa Head-to-Head T20 World Cup Record
South Africa holds a commanding record over West Indies, specifically in T20 World Cup encounters, having won four of their five tournament meetings.
West Indies’ only victory in the competition came in Nagpur in 2016, making this a historically South Africa-dominated rivalry on the biggest stage.
However, West Indies are a different beast in 2026, unbeaten and in red-hot form. South Africa also has the added familiarity of having played four of their five T20 World Cup matches at this very stadium, though none of those games began at 3 PM.
West Indies have never played a T20I at the Narendra Modi Stadium, which could be a psychological factor.
| Category | Stats |
|---|---|
| Total T20I Matches | 29 |
| South Africa Wins | 14 |
| West Indies Wins | 15 |
| Tied / No Result | 0 |
| T20 World Cup Meetings | 5 |
| South Africa WC Wins | 4 |
| West Indies WC Wins | 1 |
| West Indies’ Only WC Win vs SA | Nagpur, 2016 |
| SA T20Is at Narendra Modi Stadium | 4 matches played |
| WI T20Is at Narendra Modi Stadium | 0 (first time) |
Related Reads:
Top Picks For The Match
| Player | Team | Role | Key Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| Shimron Hetmyer | WI | Batter | Tournament’s most explosive batter; 17 sixes and a SR of 185; must-pick |
| Marco Jansen | RSA | All-rounder | 11 wickets in just 4 matches; the most dangerous bowler in this World Cup |
| Aiden Markram | RSA | Batter | South Africa’s captain and form batter; top captain option from the RSA camp |
| Gudakesh Motie | WI | Bowler | West Indies’ key spin weapon, among the highest wicket-takers in the tournament |
| Quinton de Kock | RSA | Wicketkeeper | Explosive wicketkeeper-batter at the top; capable of blowing any attack away |
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