Willow by Cricbuzz

A blockbuster rematch of the 2024 final kicks off the Super 8 stage as the defending champions India take on South Africa in Match 3 of the second round. Taking place at the world's largest arena, the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, this Group 1 fixture is a battle between the tournament's two most clinical teams. Both sides enter the Super 8s with perfect group-stage records, setting the stage for a heavyweight clash that could decide who takes the top seed into the semi-finals. You can catch every ball live on Star Sports and JioHotstar. Head-to-Head: The Battle for Supremacy While India famously defeated South Africa in the 2024 T20 World Cup final, the rivalry has been neck-and-neck ever since. India holds a slight edge in recent encounters, including a dominant win in the tournament's official warm-up match earlier this month. Overall T20Is: India leads 16-11. Feb 4, 2026 (Warm-up): India won by 30 runs (Ishan Kishan 53 off 20 balls). T20 World Cup History: India leads 5-2. Ahmedabad Record: South Africa defeated New Zealand at this venue in the group stage (Feb 14), giving them vital "ground intel" heading into this clash. Team Form & Recent Results India (W-W-W-W-W) The "Men in Blue" are on a historic 11-match T20 World Cup winning streak dating back to June 2024. Under [[/fighter/suryakumar-yadav-mr-360/40306/:Suryakumar Yadav]], the team has embraced a "high-risk, high-reward" batting philosophy that has seen them post massive totals throughout the group stage. Group Stage: Qualified 1st from Group A (Defeated Pakistan, USA, and Namibia). Last Match: Facing Netherlands (Feb 18) to finalize their momentum. Selection: Ishan Kishan has been the standout performer, locking down the opening spot alongside [[/fighter/abhishek-sharma/40428/:Abhishek Sharma]]. South Africa (W-W-W-W-L) The Proteas are playing with a "nothing to lose" intensity. Aiden Markram's side became the first to qualify for the Super 8s, utilizing a terrifying pace battery and the refined finishing skills of Tristan Stubbs and [[/fighter/david-miller/40383/:David Miller]]. Group Stage: Qualified 1st from Group D (Defeated Afghanistan, New Zealand, and Canada). Status: Undefeated in the group stage; seeking revenge for the 2024 final heartbreak. Players in Focus [[/fighter/suryakumar-yadav-mr-360/40306/:Suryakumar Yadav]] (India): The world's #1 T20 batter and India's captain. His ability to manipulate fields at the Narendra Modi Stadium makes him the ultimate tactical puzzle for the South African bowlers. [[/fighter/quinton-de-kock-quinny/40382/:Quinton de Kock]] (South Africa): The veteran opener. With the large boundaries in Ahmedabad, his ability to find gaps and provide rapid starts is South Africa's primary path to victory. [[/fighter/jasprit-bumrah/40353/:Jasprit Bumrah]] (India): The "Cheat Code." After sitting out the warm-up match, Bumrah returns to a ground he knows intimately (IPL home ground). His death-overs battle against [[/fighter/david-miller/40383/:David Miller]] will be the match's pivot point. Marco Jansen (South Africa): The left-arm threat. Jansen's height and bounce were India's undoing in previous bilateral series, and he remains the key to unsettling India's aggressive top order early.