Team India is all set to clash against South Africa in the Super 8 match of the T20 World Cup 2026. The match is scheduled to be played on Sunday at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
Ahead of the match, former Team India cricketer Irfan Pathan feels that pacer Lungi Ngidi will be a threat to the “Men in Blue”.
Speaking about the pacer, Pathan said that the South African`s every delivery finishes near the stumps.
“Lungi Ngidi bowls around 140 km/h, and his slower ones are around 110 km/h. That is a 30 km difference, which is big. One thing you notice is that every delivery he bowls finishes near the stumps. But more important is his release. Look at his action. When he is about to finish, the batter has already made up his mind that the ball will be quick,” he said.
He also said Ngidi manages to fool the batsmen without changing his action or arm speed while bowling slower balls.
“There is no change in his action or arm speed. Then suddenly he delivers a slower ball. That is why he fools batters. They do not let the ball come to them; they push at it early. That is how he takes wickets with his slower balls. He is a big threat against Indian batters,” said Pathan.
South Africa finished at the top of Group D, after winning all four of their group stage matches against New Zealand, Afghanistan, UAE and Canada. They will face the reigning champions, India, in the first Super Eight game at Narendra Modi Stadium on Sunday.
After remaining unbeaten in Group A, the defending champions head into the Super Eight stage with confidence.
T20 World Cup 2026, IND vs SA: Full Squads
India: Suryakumar Yadav (C), Sanju Samson (WK), Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Jasprit Bumrah, Ishan Kishan (WK), Rinku Singh, Mohammed Siraj, Washington Sundar, Shivam Dube, Abhishek Sharma, Varun Chakaravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Tilak Varma.
South Africa: David Miller, Quinton de Kock (WK), Keshav Maharaj, George Linde, Corbin Bosch, Kagiso Rabada, Jason Smith, Anrich Nortje, Aiden Markram (C), Lungi Ngidi, Ryan Rickelton (WK), Marco Jansen, Tristan Stubbs, Dewald Brevis, Kwena Maphaka.
(With ANI Inputs)
