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India vs SA: Abhishek Sharma's crucial test
22 Feb
Summary
- India faces South Africa on February 22 in a T20 World Cup rematch.
- Abhishek Sharma seeks to end a streak of low scores.
- Spinners Varun Chakaravarthy and Keshav Maharaj are key figures.
The 2026 T20 World Cup features a compelling rematch between India and South Africa on Sunday, February 22, at Ahmedabad's Narendra Modi Stadium. This Super Eight stage encounter is a repeat of the previous edition's final, promising an exciting contest between two dynamic teams.
Indian opener Abhishek Sharma faces a critical juncture. Despite his known potential, he has registered three ducks in the current World Cup and five in the calendar year. This match presents an opportunity for him to turn his form around against South Africa's bowlers.
India's spin bowler Varun Chakaravarthy is expected to play a vital role. His variations can trouble top batters, and he is often deployed in the middle overs to control scoring. South Africa's batsmen have historically struggled against quality spin, potentially favoring Chakaravarthy on the Ahmedabad surface.
Conversely, South Africa's spin attack, featuring Keshav Maharaj and Aiden Markram, could challenge India's middle order. Batsmen like Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, and Rinku Singh will need to adapt their approach on a pitch less conducive to aggressive hitting, especially against Maharaj's accuracy.
