The top spot in the Group 1 points table of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 Super 8 round will be on the line when West Indies take the field against South Africa
ICC T20 World Cup LIVE UPDATES: A win for South Africa vs West Indies will confirm their place in the final four alongside England
The surface in Ahmedabad promises excellent conditions for a high-scoring contest.
Business Standard looks at the possible outcomes and how the result of the West Indies vs South Africa match could shape India's semifinal chances.
Both India and Zimbabwe suffered defeats in their previous matches - India against South Africa and Zimbabwe against the West Indies - making Thursday's fixture crucial for semi-final qualification
The Men in Blue began their Super Eight campaign on a disappointing note, suffering a comprehensive 76-run defeat against South Africa national cricket team.
West Indies batting coach Floyd Reifer on Wednesday brushed aside suggestions of a looming six-hitting shootout against South Africa, asserting that his side's focus remains on maximising scoring opportunities rather than merely clearing the ropes in their crucial T20 World Cup clash here. With both unbeaten teams packed with some tremendous power-hitters, there is an expectation of a high-scoring contest but Reifer said the Caribbean side's approach goes beyond boundary-hitting. "Both teams have the ability to hit sixes and once the wicket is good, you expect good batting performances from both sides. For us, it's about scoring off as many deliveries as possible. Yes, we hit sixes and fours, but the main thing is to score as many balls as possible," Reifer said during the pre-match press conference. The former West Indies captain made it clear that his team does not feel the need to prove a point despite entering the tournament amid modest expectations. "There's no point to prove
New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner said that a total in excess of 160 was "enough" on a surface that offered more turn than expected as his side defeated Sri Lanka by 61 runs to move to the brink of T20 World Cup semifinals here on Wednesday. New Zealand had slumped to 84/6 in 12.1 overs after losing four wickets in a dramatic middle-order collapse, but Santner (47 off 26) and Cole McConchie (31 not out off 23) turned the game around with a counter-attacking stand. The duo plundered 70 runs in the last four overs to lift New Zealand to 168/7. New Zealand then restricted Sri Lanka to 107 for 8 to knock the islanders out of the tournament. "It was obviously a nice score there with the amount of spin with the ball. They squeezed us a lot," Santner said at the post-match presentation. "Of course, the batsmen will need to take a little responsibility at the top and you know we can't rely on one or two batsmen in a game, so all the batters need to take the positive option. "I think we
Fitness and form were not the only areas in which Sri Lanka failed, said captain Dasun Shanaka as he also blamed the "negative environment created outside" for his team's ouster from the T20 World Cup and oddly urged the government to protect the players from criticism. Shanaka apologised to his country for the disappointing ouster from the Super Eight stage after a 61-run loss to New Zealand following a 51-run defeat at the hands of England. However, he was not too happy with the criticism that his players were facing due to underwhelming performances. "As players, it's very hard for us to control the outside noise. So, most of the time, we mainly hear negative stuff, so no matter how positive we are as players, there is a negative environment created from the outside," he said after the loss to New Zealand here on Wednesday. "So that's a disadvantage for cricket in Sri Lanka, we only have this game and I don't think this could be saved. So, why the negativity is being spread like
A win for South Africa against West Indies will put them in the semi-finals as the second team alongside England
While dismissing panic, Kotak acknowledged that selection conversations are active. "There can be changes, yes," he admitted when asked about possible alterations involving Samson and Axar
The incident took place shortly after Dogra struck a boundary off pacer Prasidh Krishna, when a verbal exchange with substitute fielder Aneesh escalated into a brief physical confrontation
A 2-wicket win courtesy of a Harry Brook hundred for England on the night meant that the Three Lions have confirmed their qualification into the semi-final with 2 wins in as many games.
Pakistan currently have just one point from a shared result, leaving them with two must-win games against heavyweights England and co-hosts Sri Lanka.
ICC T20 World Cup HIGHLIGHTS: Sri Lanka has become the first team to be eliminated from the Super 8 round of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026
Sri Lanka are under immediate pressure following a heavy 51-run loss to England national cricket team in their Super Eight opener.
New Zealand's Super Eight opener against Pakistan was washed out without a ball being bowled due to persistent rain in Colombo.
The Black Caps head into this game having had their Super Eight opener against Pakistan abandoned due to persistent rain, which left both teams sharing a point.
Ever since Gautam Gambhir took charge of team selection, the strategy has leaned heavily toward including all-rounders.
Former India coach Ravi Shastri considers the defeat against South Africa in the Super 8s as a blessing in disguise and feels the "shakeup" was much needed for the defending champions to "reflect and reset" going into the business end of the T20 World Cup. India will be desperate to make a strong comeback against Zimbabwe here on Thursday after the heavy 76-run defeat at the hands of South Africa in their Super 8 opener in Ahmedabad on Sunday. The loss against the Proteas, incidentally, was India's first defeat after 12 successive victories across the last two editions of the T20 World Cup. "You win 12 matches on the trot, there's bound to be an off day. And I'm glad it has come early. It might just be the shakeup India needed," Shastri told on the latest episode of The ICC Review. "It might also make them rethink their strategy as to the composition of the side going ahead. "They would have learned from that last experience that they're not going to take things for granted beca