India lock horns against South Africa in their T20 World Cup 2026 warm-up match at the Dr DY Patil Sports Academy, Navi Mumbai on Wednesday, February 4. The Men in Blue are tipped to be strong contenders to win the title and have ticked most of their boxes. They face a strong South African line-up, which will offer them good time to prepare before they hit the ground running in the World Cup clash against the USA on February 7.
India's carnage continue. The hosts are 195/3 after 15 overs. Incredible exhibition of batting. Axar Patel and Rinku Singh have the perfect opportunity to establish their authority and seal their spot in the playing XI.
This has been a norm. India have gone near 250 in several matches. They are currently at 176/4 after 14 overs, and with Axar and Rinku in the middle, they can get to 250. But will they?
And now Suryakumar Yadav has been dismissed on by Kwena Maphaka. This was a slower one as he slogged it, but straight to Linde. He walks back for 30 from 15 balls. Rinku Singh comes in as India are at 167/4 after 13.
Tilak has been dismissed here. The first wicket which South Africa took today and it goes to Marco Jansen. This was a yorker on the leg stump as the batter missed it. Tilak walks back for 45 from 15 balls. Axar is now in.
The first 10 overs in the first innings are done now. India motoring along well and have made 135/2 after those 10 overs. SKY and Tilak are in the middle.
Okay, another retirement in the innings. Abhishek Sharma has been called back after he made 24 from 18 balls. Suryakumar has joined in. India might be making changes due to the time period of when these batters would generally come in to bat. SKY comes in in the ninth over, India 109/2 after 8.3.
Time for spin in this match for the first time. George Linde with his left-arm spin and the left-handers would be chuffed to see him.
Okay, so India have had enough of the Kishan show today. They have decided to retire him out after his 20-ball 53. Tilak Varma now walks into the middle as India look to give him game time at No.3.
Four sixes from the first over of Anrich Nortje here. One was slammed by Abhishek Sharma and three by Ishan Kishan. He has helped two sixes on the leg-stump line balls to sixes and one was a mind-boggling maximum as he looked to get away from the firing line of the ball. Got some bat and it sailed all the way over deep fine. India 73/0 after 5.
Abhishek has now started to go big. He hits three consecutive fours in the fourth over. The first was not timed perfectly over mid-off, the second was crunched over covers, the third was off his toe-end past the short third. India 44/0 after 4.
Kishan now uses a brilliant flick of his wrists to time this for a six. This was onto his pads as he flicked it past deep mid-wicket for another maximum. Meanwhile, Abhishek is not quick off the blocks today as he is on two from seven balls. How surprising is that??
Marco Jansen comes in with the second over and Abhishek Sharma tried giving him a charge first ball but does not connect. Kishan gets a four off the final ball of the over. India 21/0 after 2.
Kishan looks to be in touch today, too. He hit a six on the second ball, was cut into two halves with a one that stayed low and then slammed another six on the fifth ball. India 14/0 after 1.
Ishan Kishan is taking the strike today for India with Abhishek at the other end. Lungi Ngidi comes with the new ball and bang Ishan hits a six second ball. This was fuller in the slot as Kishan flicked over the cow corner for the first maximum of the match.
The players walk out in the middle. It is Ishan Kishan and Abhishek Sharma who will be opening today for India. South African players in a team huddle for their final pep talk before they go out.
Tilak Varma is also back in the senior member squad as he returns to competitive cricket after his injury. Tilak featured in the India A vs USA game and had made 38 runs in 24 balls in that game. He is listed at No.4 today but should come in at No.3 with Kishan opening today.
The big news from the toss was that Ishan Kishan will be opening with Abhishek Sharma today, as confirmed by Suryakumar Yadav. Kishan was also seen doing the wicketkeeping drills. This might be it for Sanju Samson now.
India (Batting XI, Fielding XI): Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan(w), Suryakumar Yadav(c), Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson, Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah, Washington Sundar, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav
South Africa (Batting XI, Fielding XI): Aiden Markram(c), Quinton de Kock(w), Ryan Rickelton, Dewald Brevis, Tristan Stubbs, Jason Smith, David Miller, Marco Jansen, George Linde, Corbin Bosch, Keshav Maharaj, Kwena Maphaka, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Kagiso Rabada
Suryakumar confirms that Ishan Kishan will be coming out to open with Abhishek Sharma today. "Going to bat first. I've heard there might be dew later on, so we want to challenge our bowlers. Want to test ourselves tonight. Definitely Ishan and Abhishek (to open). When you play the sport, it comes with a lot of responsibility. Pressure is always there. But at the same time, there's so many people coming out to support you. Gives you an extra advantage. Just want to follow what we've been doing in the last one and a half years. Continue those good habits," SKY said at the toss.
India have won the toss and they have opted to bat first today. Suryakumar Yadav confirms Abhishek Sharma and Ishan Kishan will be opening today.
We are moments away from the toss of the India vs South Africa T20 World Cup warm-up game. Ishan Kishan can bee seen doing wicketkeeping drills. He might be the one who keeps today as well, just like he did fifth T20I against New Zealand.
India have ticked almost all the boxes heading into the World Cup with captain Suryakumar Yadav also finding form. However, there is a concern over Sanju Samson's form, who could not make his five opportunities count at the top of the order in the New Zealand series. Tilak Varma is returning and looked good in the IND A vs USA clash. Will Samson open today? And what will he do if he does?
India are the world beaters. They have defeated all the teams in all the series that they have played after the T20 World Cup 2024. Suryakumar Yadav's team is a pretty strong side and they would look to keep their strong run going into the World Cup.
India are taking on South Africa in their only senior T20 World Cup warm-up match before the start of the tournament from February 7 onwards. The Men in Blue have ticked almost all boxes heading into the tournament and this game will provide them with another chance to test themselves before hitting the ground running for the tournament.
