Ahmedabad’s Narendra Modi Stadium is set to host a thrilling Super 8 showdown in the T20 World Cup 2026 as South Africa faces two-time champions West Indies on Thursday. Both teams are riding high on winning streaks and eager to solidify their positions in Group 1.
West Indies have been unstoppable in the group stages, kicking off with a 35-run victory over Scotland, followed by a commanding 30-run win against England. They crushed Nepal by 9 wickets and dismantled Italy by 42 runs. Their Super 8 campaign exploded with a massive 107-run thrashing of Zimbabwe, propelling them to the top of Group 1 with an impressive net run rate of +5.350.
South Africa isn’t far behind, holding second place with a +3.800 net run rate. They started strong by defeating Canada by 57 runs and edged out Afghanistan in a dramatic second super over. Victories over New Zealand by 7 wickets and UAE by 6 wickets capped their Super 4 run, before a dominant 76-run win against India launched their Super 8 phase with firepower.
Head-to-head, the rivalry is razor-close across 29 T20 encounters: West Indies lead 15-14. The Caribbean side’s last World Cup triumph over South Africa came in 2016, and they’re hungry to end a decade-long drought. Just last month, South Africa edged a three-match T20 series 2-1, adding extra spice to this rematch.
South Africa’s squad boasts captain Aiden Markram, alongside Quinton de Kock (wk), Ryan Rickelton, Dewald Brevis, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi, George Linde, Anrich Nortje, Kwena Maphaka, and Jason Smith.
West Indies counters with Brandon King, Shai Hope (wk/captain), Shimron Hetmyer, Rovman Powell, Sherfane Rutherford, Romario Shepherd, Jason Holder, Matthew Forde, Akeal Hosein, Gudakesh Motie, Shamar Joseph, Quentin Sampson, Jayden Seales, Roston Chase, and Johnson Charles.
With playoff implications hanging in the balance, expect a high-octane battle under the Ahmedabad lights. Fans are bracing for fireworks from both batting lineups and bowling attacks.