IND vs SA T20 World Cup: India's first Super 8 match is against South Africa on Sunday, February 22. Earlier, news emerged that Siraj had been injured by a powerful shot from Hardik Pandya during practice.
Indian Cricket Team T20 World Cup 2026
Team India, which reached the Super 8 stage of the T20 World Cup 2026 by winning all four matches in the league stage, will face South Africa in their first match on Sunday, February 22nd. Aiden Markram and his team also won all their league stage matches. The match between the two finalists from the previous edition will be a close contest, but before that, worrying news came from the Indian camp: fast bowler Mohammed Siraj was injured during practice. Reports indicate that Siraj was injured by a powerful shot from Hardik Pandya.
Mohammed Siraj played in the first match of the T20 World Cup 2026, taking three wickets. However, Jasprit Bumrah returned to the team soon after, and Siraj was forced to sit out. Team India is currently in Ahmedabad ( Narendra Modi Stadium), where the India vs. South Africa match will take place. During practice on Friday evening, Mohammed Siraj was injured on his left knee by a shot from Hardik Pandya. He subsequently limped off the field.
Will the vice-captain return in Super-8?
One change is possible in India's playing 11 against South Africa. Vice-captain Axar Patel was left out of the final league match, and Washington Super replaced him in the playing 11. It is believed that Axar, who makes significant contributions with both bowling and batting, may return for the Super 8.
In the press conference before the match against South Africa, India's bowling coach Morkel praised Varun Chakravarthy's role. He stated that Varun has performed exceptionally well in the World Cup so far and has played a vital role for the team before. The coach stated that he is a key wicket-taker in the team.
Probable Playing 11: Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan (wicketkeeper), Tilak Verma, Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Shivam Dubey, Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah.
