IND vs SA Live Score T20 World Cup: Kuldeep likely to be benched again, Axar poised to return in Playing XI shake-up

India vs South Africa Live Score T20 World Cup: Tilak Varma’s place in the Indian setup is beginning to draw scrutiny as his recent outings have lacked the spark that once made him stand out. Not too long ago, he was instrumental in India’s Asia Cup success, producing a decisive knock against Pakistan in the final. But after recovering from the injury that kept him out of the T20I series against New Zealand, he has found it difficult to hit top gear. In four games at the T20 World Cup, the left-hander has scored 106 runs at a strike rate of 120.45, numbers that have prompted debate about his impact in the middle order.

Before the toss, it’s close: India 52%, South Africa 48, because India’s edge is bowling control while South Africa’s edge is top-order stability and cleaner chases. If India bat first, it nudges India (54-46) because their best gear is late-innings acceleration and their bowlers defend totals well. If South Africa chase with dew or a skiddy surface, it flips SA (56-44) as their top three can keep wickets intact and cash in. The biggest swing trigger: India lose 2+ in the powerplay and SA jump to 60-40; India strike early (QDK or Markram) and it swings to 61-39.

India’s batting across the tournament has had a consistent shape: a brisk Powerplay, a relatively controlled middle, and a hard surge at the death. On average per innings, India have scored 58.8 in the Powerplay (RR 9.79), then 68.0 in overs 7–15 (RR 7.56) — before switching to full attack mode with 57.8 in the last five (RR 11.55). The trade-off? Wickets keep dropping as the innings goes deeper: 2.00 (PP) → 2.50 (middle) → 3.25 (death).

India arrive in the Super 8 unbeaten, but what stands out is the variety in their group-stage script.

First up at the Wankhede in Mumbai on February 7, India were put in by the USA and ended on 161 for 9. It wasn’t a cruise, but it was enough. The bowlers then held their nerve to restrict the USA to 132 for 8, sealing a 29-run win. On February 12 in Delhi, India went ruthless. They piled up 209 for 9 against Namibia and then bowled them out for 116 in 18.2 overs, winning by 93 runs, their biggest margin of the tournament so far. The marquee night against Pakistan came on February 15 in Colombo. India posted 175 for 7 against Pakistan and then rolled them for 114 in 18 overs, a commanding 61-run statement. Back home in Ahmedabad on February 18, India made 193 for 6 against the Netherlands and defended it cleanly, limiting them to 176 for 7 to complete a 17-run win.

India vs South Africa T20 World Cup Live Score: Abhishek Sharma’s struggles have become a major talking point after he recorded three consecutive ducks in the ongoing T20 World Cup. Touted as one of India’s key attacking weapons at the top, the left-hander has failed to justify that billing so far. His trademark aggression, meant to give India rapid starts, has instead led to early dismissals, leaving the team exposed in the powerplay. With expectations high and opportunities slipping by, questions are growing over whether he needs to rein in his approach and rebuild his innings rather than chasing quick runs from the outset.

When India and South Africa meet again in the Super 8s, the ghosts are familiar — the XIs aren’t. In Bridgetown 2024, India rode Rohit, Kohli, Pant, plus the all-round spine of Hardik-Jadeja-Axar, with Kuldeep as the wrist-spin option. South Africa leaned on Hendricks–de Kock up top, Markram’s control, Klaasen/Miller in the finish, and a pace-heavy attack.

Fast-forward to 2026 and India look left-hand heavy and pace-ready: Abhishek–Ishan at the top, Tilak at 3, Rinku in the engine room, and Varun Chakravarthy now central to the bowling plan. South Africa still carry the core (Markram, de Kock, Miller, Jansen, Maharaj) but the supporting cast has shifted — Rickelton and Brevis add fresh batting gear, while Bosch/Ngidi reshape the seam mix around Rabada/Nortje.

India vs South Africa in men’s T20Is has tilted India’s way over time. Overall, India lead 21-13 with one no-result from 35 matches. In T20 World Cups, the edge is even clearer: India have won five of the seven meetings, South Africa two. In India, the head-to-head also favours the hosts 8-4 (12 matches). And if Ahmedabad comes into the conversation, there has been at least one T20I here between the sides at the Narendra Modi Stadium, with India winning that contest — making it 1-0 India in Ahmedabad.

India vs South Africa T20 World Cup Live Score: Hello and welcome to our live coverage of the T20 World Cup Super 8 match between India and South Africa from Ahmedabad. It will be a rematch of the 2024 T20 World Cup final, where India emerged victorious.