Top News

India and South Africa are ready to clash in the Super-8 round of T20 World Cup 2026. This is going to be a kind of action replay of the final of the last T20 World Cup. There is a lot of curiosity about this match to be held on Sunday 22nd February at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. This curiosity has also increased due to the current situation of Team India. After star opener Abhishek Sharma was out for 0 in 3 consecutive matches, questions are being raised regarding the change in the playing-11. But captain Suryakumar Yadav has made it clear that Abhishek will retain his place.

The issue of playing-11 was raised in the press conference a day before Team India's opening match in the Super-8 round. Due to this Abhishek Sharma Apart from his current form, Sanju Samson had to spend a long time in practice sessions. In the practice session held on Friday, Samson batted for a long time in the nets, which usually happens only when a batsman is going to get a chance in the playing-11. This scene had increased the curiosity whether Team India can field Samson in place of Abhishek in the Super-8 round or not.

'Abhishek or Tilak - in whose place should I give it?'

When this issue was raised before Suryakumar Yadav in the press conference and it was asked whether Samson could get a place in the playing-11, the Indian captain rejected it. Surya gave his answer in the tone of asking a question. He said, “Are you saying that I should feed him instead of Abhishek?” When asked about fielding him at number 3, the captain gave a similar answer and asked, “So you mean I should play in place of Tilak?”

NO SANJU SAMSON IN TEAM INDIA PLAYING X1.

Surya Said: “What should I do then — drop Abhishek Sharma? He bats at No.3. Then should I drop Tilak Varma? Better to continue the way things are going.”pic.twitter.com/hrDJjrfeo7

— Sam (@Cricsam01) February 21, 2026

After this, Surya expressed satisfaction over the team's performance and said that the team has increased expectations by scoring more runs in bilateral but at the moment everything is going well. He said, "It is going well. Right now 40-50 runs are being scored in the powerplay. Now we have played such good cricket in bilateral. Sometimes there are expectations from ourselves to score 220-240 runs. But the wickets are a little different here, the four matches we have played have been different."

Will the story change before the toss?

Sanju Samson has got a chance in only one match so far in this World Cup, when Abhishek Sharma fell ill. Samson was given a chance in the match against Namibia, where he scored 22 runs in 8 balls. But after this he did not return. Due to not having a place in the top order and his record in the middle order not being very good, Samson may have to wait for now. However, until the playing-11 is announced during the toss, there will be a possibility of any kind of change.

Click here for more information related to T20 World Cup 2026

As far as the rest of the players are concerned, there is no possibility of any significant change in the playing-11 of Team India. Only one among Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav and Akshar Patel can get a chance. Considering the recent performance and the need, the return of vice-captain Akshar Patel, who was rested from the match against Netherlands, is certain.

India's probable playing-11

Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan (wicketkeeper), Tilak Verma, Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Shivam Dubey, Axar Patel, Varun Chakraborty, Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh.