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The ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 reaches its climax as West Indies and South Africa clash in a winner-takes-all Super 8 Group 1 finale at Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium on Thursday, February 26.
This 47th match carries monumental stakes: victory guarantees semi-final qualification for either side.
Shai Hope’s West Indies tops the Super 8 Group 1 standings, while Aiden Markram’s South Africa surges with momentum after their stunning 76-run demolition of defending champions India.
Both teams remain unbeaten in the tournament, setting up a blockbuster afternoon showdown at 3:00 PM local time on one of cricket’s highest-scoring venues.
With the Motera pitch averaging 205 runs in the first innings and minimal dew expected in the afternoon start, this evenly matched contest between two in-form sides promises explosive entertainment with a semi-final berth as the ultimate prize.
West Indies vs South Africa Match Information & Schedule
West Indies vs South Africa 47th Match Facts
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Match | WI vs SA, 47th Match, Super 8 Group 1 |
| Tournament | ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 |
| Date | Thursday, February 26, 2026 |
| Time | 3:00 PM LOCAL, 9:30 AM GMT |
| Venue | Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad |
West Indies vs South Africa Betting Odds & Market Analysis
Bookmakers project one of the tournament’s most evenly matched contests, with both unbeaten teams offering nearly identical returns, though South Africa holds marginal favoritism following their impressive India victory.
| Platform | West Indies Win Odds | South Africa Win Odds | Toss Odds (West Indies) | Toss Odds (South Africa) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1xBet | 2.1 | 1.75 | 1.9 | 1.9 |
| Stake | 2.05 | 1.78 | 1.91 | 1.89 |
| 4RABET | 2.13 | 1.73 | 1.88 | 1.92 |
| BetVibe | 2.08 | 1.76 | 1.9 | 1.9 |
West Indies vs South Africa Probable Playing XIs
Both nations will deploy their strongest available lineups for this knockout-style Super 8 decider that guarantees the winner’s passage to the semi-finals.
West Indies Probable XI
Shai Hope (c & wk), Brandon King, Johnson Charles, Rovman Powell, Shimron Hetmyer, Sherfane Rutherford, Roston Chase, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Gudakesh Motie, Shamar Joseph
South Africa Probable 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
Narendra Modi Stadium Pitch Report & Playing Conditions
The world’s largest cricket stadium consistently produces high-scoring encounters on its hard, batting-friendly surface that rewards aggressive stroke-play.
Pitch Report of Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Pitch Behaviour | The surface is hard and marginally dry with reliable bounce characteristics. Initially favors batsmen before progressively assisting spin bowlers as matches develop. |
| Batting Assistance | The ball comes cleanly onto the bat with minimal swing, enabling players to execute shots freely with confidence throughout early and middle phases. |
| Bowling Assistance | Pace bowlers extract quality bounce with the new ball during opening overs. As the pitch deteriorates, spinners gain increased turn during middle overs. |
| Boundaries Dimensions | Square boundaries span approximately 73 metres, with straight boundaries measuring around 83 metres. |
| Average 1st Innings Score | First-innings totals typically reach around 205 runs in T20 matches at this venue. |
| Toss Impact & Dew | With an afternoon start time, toss-winning captains will likely elect to bat first. Minimal dew expected compared to evening fixtures. |
West Indies vs South Africa Weather Forecast
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Temperature | Hot afternoon conditions at 34°C will challenge players’ stamina and hydration. |
| Weather | Clear skies with abundant sunshine throughout the fixture. |
| Precipitation | Zero rain probability ensures uninterrupted play. |
| Humidity | Low humidity at 30% providing comfortable conditions despite high temperature. |
| Wind | Gentle breeze at 10 km/h offering minimal assistance to bowlers. |
West Indies vs South Africa T20I Head-to-Head Record
This rivalry stands remarkably balanced, with the West Indies holding the narrowest of edges in their 29 T20 International encounters.
West Indies and South Africa Head-to-Head in T20Is
| Aspect | Result |
|---|---|
| Total Matches Played | 29 |
| West Indies Won | 15 |
| South Africa Won | 14 |
Recent Form:
- West Indies: Unbeaten in the tournament, topping Super 8 Group 1 standings
- South Africa: Unbeaten in the tournament, defeated defending champions India by 76 runs in the previous Super 8 match
West Indies vs South Africa Key Players & Statistics
Key Players to Watch
| Players | T20I Stats |
|---|---|
| Shai Hope (WI) | Captain and wicketkeeper-batsman with 1,624 runs in 65 T20I matches, averaging 30.07. Leadership is crucial in a high-pressure knockout scenario. |
| Jason Holder (WI) | Experienced all-rounder with 802 runs and 106 wickets in 94 matches. Provides balance and big-match temperament. |
| Gudakesh Motie (WI) | Left-arm spinner with 49 wickets in 49 matches, economy rate of 7.85. Key to controlling middle overs on a slow pitch. |
| Quinton de Kock (RSA) | Explosive wicketkeeper-batsman with 3,038 runs in 107 matches, averaging 31.31. Crucial to South Africa’s powerplay dominance. |
| Lungi Ngidi (RSA) | Pace spearhead with 86 wickets in 61 matches. Essential wicket-taking weapon with the new ball and at death. |
| Dewald Brevis (RSA) | Young power-hitter with 621 runs in 27 matches, averaging 25.87. Capable of explosive innings on the batting-friendly Ahmedabad surface. |
Related Reads:
West Indies vs South Africa Live Streaming & TV Broadcasting Guide
Cricket fans worldwide can witness this winner-takes-all Super 8 decider through these official broadcasting partners and streaming platforms:
| Region | TV Broadcaster | Streaming Platform |
|---|---|---|
| India | Star Sports | JioHotstar |
| Nepal | Kantipur TV, Nepal Television | ICC.tv |
| Italy | — | ICC.tv |
| Pakistan | PTV Sports, Ten Sports, ASports | Myco, Tapmad, Tamasha |
| United Kingdom | Sky Sports | Sky Go, NOW |
| USA & Canada | Willow TV | Willow by Cricbuzz |
| Australia | Fox Cricket, Nine Network | Amazon Prime Video, Kayo |
| New Zealand | Sky Sport NZ | Sky Go, TVNZ+ |
| South Africa | SuperSport | SuperSport App, DStv |
| Sri Lanka | TV Supreme, Dialog TV | ICC.tv, Sirasa TV |
| Rest of World | Varies by country | ICC.tv |
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