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 of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 carries huge stakes. Victory guarantees a semi-final spot for either side.
Shai Hope’s West Indies sits at the top of the Super 8 Group 1 standings. Aiden Markram’s South Africa rides high on momentum after their stunning 76-run win over defending champions India. Both teams remain unbeaten in the tournament.
The match starts at 3:00 PM local time. The Motera pitch averages 205 runs in the first innings. With an afternoon start, minimal dew is expected to affect play. This evenly matched contest between two in-form sides promises explosive entertainment.
WI vs SA Match Details
| 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 |
WI vs SA Betting Odds Comparison
Bookmakers expect one of the tournament’s closest matches. Both unbeaten teams offer nearly identical returns. South Africa holds a slight advantage after their impressive win over India.
| Platform | WI Win Odds | SA Win Odds | Toss (WI) | Toss (SA) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
WI vs SA Squads
West Indies Squad:
Shai Hope (c & wk), Brandon King, Johnson Charles (wk), Rovman Powell, Shimron Hetmyer, Sherfane Rutherford, Roston Chase, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Gudakesh Motie, Shamar Joseph, Matthew Forde, Jayden Seales, Romario Shepherd, Quentin Sampson
South Africa Squad:
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, George Linde, Jason Smith, Kwena Maphaka, Anrich Nortje
Narendra Modi Stadium Pitch Report
The world’s largest cricket stadium produces high-scoring encounters on its hard, batting-friendly surface. The pitch rewards aggressive stroke-play throughout the innings.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Pitch Behaviour | Hard and slightly dry surface with even bounce. Favors batters early, assists spinners later. |
| Batting Assistance | The ball comes onto the bat nicely. Very little swing allows free shot-making. |
| Bowling Assistance | Pace bowlers get good bounce with the new ball. Spinners find turn in the middle overs. |
| Boundary Dimensions | Square boundaries: 73 metres. Straight boundaries: 83 metres. |
| Average 1st Innings Score | Around 205 runs in T20 matches. |
| Toss Impact | An afternoon start means the captain winning the toss will likely bat first. Minimal dew expected. |
Weather Forecast
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Temperature | Around 34°C with hot afternoon conditions |
| Weather | Clear skies with abundant sunshine |
| Rain Probability | Zero chance of rain |
| Humidity | 30% humidity provides comfortable conditions |
| Wind | Gentle breeze at 10 km/h |
WI vs SA Head-to-Head Record in T20Is
This rivalry stands remarkably balanced. West Indies holds the narrowest edge in their 29 T20 International encounters.
| Statistic | Result |
|---|---|
| Total Matches Played | 29 |
| West Indies Won | 15 |
| South Africa Won | 14 |
Recent Form:
West Indies: Unbeaten in the tournament and leading Super 8 Group 1 standings.
South Africa: Unbeaten in the tournament and defeated defending champions India by 76 runs.
Key Players to Watch
Both teams have match-winners who can decide the game quickly. The batting-friendly pitch will suit these explosive players.
| Player | Team | T20I Stats |
|---|---|---|
| Shai Hope | WI | 1,624 runs in 65 matches, averaging 30.07. Leads the team as captain. |
| Jason Holder | WI | 802 runs and 106 wickets in 94 matches. All-rounder with big-match experience. |
| Gudakesh Motie | WI | 49 wickets in 49 matches at 7.85 economy. Controls middle overs. |
| Quinton de Kock | SA | 3,038 runs in 107 matches, averaging 31.31. Explosive opener. |
| Lungi Ngidi | SA | 86 wickets in 61 matches. Pace spearhead with a new ball at death. |
| Dewald Brevis | SA | 621 runs in 27 matches. Young power-hitter capable of explosive innings. |
Toss Prediction
The match starts in the afternoon. This timing significantly reduces the dew factor. Both captains will prefer batting first to set a big total on this high-scoring ground. The team winning the toss will likely choose to bat.
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WI vs SA Match Prediction
South Africa enters this match as the slight favorites, with a 57% win probability. Their dominant 76-run victory over India shows they can handle pressure situations. Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi form a deadly pace attack. Quinton de Kock’s experience at the top adds stability.
West Indies relies on their strong spin duo of Gudakesh Motie and Akeal Hosein. If they control the middle overs, the Caribbean team can restrict South Africa. Shai Hope’s captaincy and Jason Holder’s all-round skills give them solid options.
The head-to-head record favors West Indies (15-14), but South Africa’s current form gives them an edge. Expect a high-scoring thriller on this batting-friendly wicket. South Africa should win if they score above 190 batting first. A total below 180 opens the door for West Indies.
