Last Updated on 1 month ago by Charbel Coorey

West Indies and South Africa will lock horns against each other in the 47th game of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026. The match will be played at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, on 26th February 2026, at 3 PM IST. Both sides are unbeaten and are in excellent form. It promises to be a thriller.

The West Indies defeated Zimbabwe by a big margin of 107 runs in their first Super 8 game. Shimron Hetmyer (85 runs) showed his hitting prowess while Rovman Powell (59 runs) also performed superbly. Gudakesh Motie (4 wickets) continued his good form while the other bowlers also chipped in for the Windies.

They have been very consistent with both bat and ball in the tournament so far and are one of the top contenders to lift the title. They bat deep, their spinners are in good form, the pacers are also bowling well, and the all-rounders are contributing consistently. 

Meanwhile, South Africa defeated India in their last game by 76 runs. David Miller (63 runs) held the batting after a top-order collapse alongside Dewald Brevis (45 runs) and Tristan Stubbs (44 runs*). Marco Jansen (4 wickets) and Keshav Maharaj (3 wickets) were disciplined with their bowling and saw their side over the line.

The Proteas are also in excellent form. They bat very deep, and their bowlers have been in exceptional form. They still need some consistency from Quinton de Kock and Ryan Rickelton in the Super 8 round, but overall, they’re one of the strongest sides in the competition.

ICC T20 World Cup 2026 47th Match: WI vs SA Probable Playing XIs

West Indies: 1. Shai Hope (c & wk), 2. Brandon King/Johnson Charles, 3. Shimron Hetmyer, 4. Rovman Powell, 5. Sherfane Rutherford, 6. Romario Shepherd, 7. Jason Holder, 8. Matthew Forde, 9. Gudakesh Motie, 10. Akeal Hosein, 11. Shamar Joseph

South Africa: 1. Aiden Markram (c), 2. Quinton de Kock (wk), 3. Ryan Rickelton, 4. Dewald Brevis, 5. David Miller, 6. Tristan Stubbs, 7. Marco Jansen, 8. Corbin Bosch, 9. Kagiso Rabada, 10. Keshav Maharaj, 11. Lungi Ngidi

Narendra Modi Ahmedabad Stadium Pitch Report and Weather

The pitch at the Narendra Modi Stadium has been a balanced one. The batters can play their shots, pacers get movement with the new ball and spinners also get good purchase as the game progresses.

Overall, we should see a sporting pitch for this game. Scores in the range of 180-200 are expected. Teams may prefer chasing, but batting first has been fruitful at this venue, especially if you score 180+.

The weather will be clear with no chance of rain, and the temperature will be around 33 degrees Celsius at the start of the game.

Fantasy Cricket Tips for WI vs SA: Players to Watch/Key Stats

Top Wicket-Keeper Picks:  

• Quinton de Kock has failed to get going in the last two games, but he’s been in top form lately. He will look to attack the West Indian bowlers in the powerplay, and he scored a century against them just before the T20 World Cup. De Kock will be a must in your fantasy teams.

Key batter picks: 

• Shimron Hetmyer is in the form of his life. He’s scoring runs consistently and hitting sixes for fun. He will be a key batter for his side against the likes of Keshav Maharaj and Marco Jansen. Hetmyer will be a top C/VC pick as well. Hetmyer in T20 WC 2026: 219 runs at an average of 54.75 at a strike rate of 185.59 with 2 fifties. 
• Sherfane Rutherford is another in-form batter in this game. He has 157 runs at a strike rate of 189.15. He’s performing consistently in the lower middle order for his side and will be another must-pick. 
• Dewald Brevis played a crucial knock of 45 runs against India. He looked comfortable and attacked when the ball was in his zone. Brevis will be the most important batter for his side against the likes of Gudakesh Motie and Akeal Hosein, considering his spin-hitting abilities. 
• David Miller played one of the best knocks in T20 WC history against India. He held his nerves and batted brilliantly. Miller has been in top form and is taking on the spinners. You can’t miss out on him in your fantasy teams as he loves Ahmedabad too.

Top all-rounder picks: 

• Marco Jansen has been bowling brilliantly. His new knuckle-cutter delivery is deceiving the batters, and he’s hitting the deck hard alongside moving the new ball. He’s more than capable with the bat and will be an excellent C/VC option. 
• Romario Shepherd didn’t bowl in the last game but scored a crucial 21 runs off just 10 deliveries. He’s a brute hitter and has picked up six wickets in two innings, including a hat trick and a fifer in the game against Scotland. 
• Jason Holder has eight wickets and 55 runs (196.42 strike rate) in this World Cup. He is performing consistently and will fetch points from both bat and ball. Holder’s hitting has improved quite a lot in recent times, and he’ll play a key role in this game with both bat and ball.
• Protea skipper Aiden Markram is again a must-have in your fantasy teams. He has 182 runs at an average of 45.40 and a strike rate of 178.43, including a couple of fifties to his name. He will surely come on to bowl against Hetmyer and Rutherford which makes him an ideal C/VC pick.

Key bowler picks: 

• Gudakesh Motie is wreaking havoc in the middle overs. He is bowling chinaman as well to go with his traditional left-arm orthodox bowling style. Motie has 10 wickets in five games at a strike rate of 10.80. It will be an exciting contest between he and the South African middle order.

Other Players to Consider for Your Fantasy Cricket Teams

• Keshav Mahraj
• Lungi Ngidi
• Corbin Bosch
• Rovman Powell
• Ryan Rickelton

Other Matchups and Facts 

• West Indies have won 15 of the 29 T20Is played between the two teams. 
• Aiden Markram vs Matthew Forde (T20Is): 23 runs, 2 dismissals in 20 deliveries.
• Rovman Powell vs Keshav Maharaj (T20Is): 4 runs, 2 dismissals in 8 deliveries.
• Quinton de Kock vs Gudakesh Motie (T20Is): 2 runs, 2 dismissals in 7 deliveries.

ICC T20 World Cup 2026 47th Match: WI vs SA Dream11 Prediction Today

Note: The below teams are not based on the final playing XIs. We may not be able to update these in time. Use the stats and commentary in this article, as well as your own instincts, to create your teams.

Option 1:

Option 2:

ICC T20 World Cup 2026 47th Match: WI vs SA Match Prediction: Who will win?

This may arguably be the most competitive game of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026. Both sides are neck-and-neck on almost all the parameters, be it batting depth, bowling form, or their overall form. It’s really difficult to predict the winner of this match.

West Indies to win considering their spinners’ form. 

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All statistics and matchups in this article have been verified by ESPNcricinfo, and Cricmetric.