Ahmedabad, Feb 26 (UNI) South Africa won the toss and opted to bowl first, putting West Indies into bat in a high-stakes Super 8 encounter of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 at the Narendra Modi Stadium.
The match also saw West Indies make a key tactical move by including all-rounder Roston Chase to strengthen their batting depth and spin options.
West Indies captain Shai Hope said the decision was based on conditions and tournament strategy. “We would have batted first as well. The idea is to put runs on the board and then defend with discipline. Roston brings balance to our side with both bat and ball,” Hope said.
Team management clarified that Chase’s inclusion was not due to any performance-related issue but rather a matchup-based tactical adjustment for the middle overs. The pitch is expected to assist slower bowlers as the match progresses, making all-round flexibility important in the contest.
South Africa captain Aiden Markram said his side was happy to bowl first. “We want to exploit early conditions with our pace attack and restrict them to a manageable total. In World Cup games, chasing targets gives us clarity in planning,” Markram said.
South Africa will depend heavily on their bowling unit, including pacers Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi, to control West Indies’ aggressive batting lineup. The Proteas also have strong batting depth to counter pressure situations during the chase.
With Super 8 qualification scenarios becoming tighter, both teams are looking to build momentum as the tournament moves towards the knockout phase. The contest is expected to be a tactical battle between West Indies’ all-round versatility and South Africa’s disciplined bowling approach.
Teams:
West Indies (Playing XI): Brandon King, Shai Hope(w/c), Shimron Hetmyer, Rovman Powell, Sherfane Rutherford, Roston Chase, Romario Shepherd, Jason Holder, Matthew Forde, Gudakesh Motie, Shamar Joseph
South Africa (Playing XI): Aiden Markram(c), Quinton de Kock(w), Ryan Rickelton, Dewald Brevis, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi
