South Africa will take on Afghanistan in the 13th match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.
South Africa began their campaign on a strong note with a convincing 57-run win over Canada. Captain Aiden Markram led from the front with a solid 59, while Tristan Stubbs provided the late acceleration with a quickfire 34 off just 19 balls. With the ball, Lungi Ngidi was outstanding, picking up four wickets to dismantle the Canadian batting line-up.
Afghanistan, on the other hand, had a disappointing start to the tournament, suffering a five-wicket defeat against New Zealand. Despite the loss, Gulbadin Naib stood out with an impressive knock of 63 off just 35 balls, showing positive intent. In the bowling department, Mujeeb ur Rahman was among the wickets, finishing with two scalps.
Probable Playing XI
South Africa:
Quinton de Kock (wk), Aiden Markram (c), Ryan Rickelton, Dewald Brevis, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Corbin Bosch, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi, Kagiso Rabada
Bench: JF Smith, George Linde, Kwena Maphaka, Anrich Nortje
Afghanistan:
Rahmanullah Gurbaz (wk), Ibrahim Zadran, Sediqullah Atal, Darwish Rasooli, Gulbadin Naib, Azmatullah Omarzai, Mohammad Nabi, Rashid Khan (c), Fazalhaq Farooqi, Mujeeb ur Rahman, Ziaur Rahman Sharifi
Bench: Mohammad Ishaq, Shahidullah Kamal, Abdullah Ahmadzai, Noor Ahmad
Pitch Report
The Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad is known for its batting-friendly surface and quick outfield, which often results in high-scoring matches. Batters can enjoy good value for shots once they settle in. However, fast bowlers may get some early movement with the new ball, making the first few overs crucial. Considering the conditions, the captain winning the toss is likely to opt for bowling first.
