In form of ICC T20 World Cup 2026 Shifting into high gear, the Super 8 stage presents an exciting clash between two undefeated giants: India And South Africa. The match, to be held at the iconic Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on Sunday, February 22, will be crucial for the men in blue as they look to defend their crown. Amidst the tactical discussion, former Indian wicketkeeper-batsman and renowned commentator Deep Dasgupta This has increased the selection headache faced by the Indian management, especially regarding the balance of the bowling attack.
Deep Dasgupta reveals his India XI picks for the Super 8 clash against South Africa
Dasgupta believes India’s final XI will depend on two “interrelated” decisions, primarily involving the selection between spin-bowling all-rounders. Akshar Patel And washington beautiful. According to Dasgupta, the selection is not just about individual players but also about how they facilitate India’s use of the leader. Jasprit Bumrah.
“If Arshdeep Singh is playing then he can go with Axar Patel” Dasgupta said during an interaction on Star Sports. However, he argued that if the team decides to keep Arshdeep on the bench to strengthen some other department, Sundar becomes the primary choice. The logic lies in Sundar’s efficiency with the new ball. With Washington bowling the early powerplay overs, the captain Suryakumar Yadav Bumrah has the “freedom” to conserve four overs for high-impact phases later in the innings.
Dasgupta also revealed that South Africa’s batting lineup includes left-handed batsmen Quinton de Kock, Ryan RickeltonAnd david miller—A compelling case is made for Washington’s off-spin. He observed that Washington was likely given a game against the Netherlands to prepare specifically for this specific tactical matchup. Importantly, Dasgupta reassured fans that choosing Sundar over Axar would not harm the team’s batting depth, saying “Washington is not far behind with the batAt number eight.
Also read: T20 World Cup 2026: R Ashwin reflects on India’s form, highlights bright signs ahead of Super 8
India’s dominance with unbeaten streak in Super 8
India entered the Super 8 stage with tremendous momentum and finished the group stage with a perfect record. Their journey through Group A was testament to their clinical consistency, with four wins in as many matches.
Men in Blue started their campaign with a 29-run win usaAfter this, a spectacular victory was recorded by 93 runs. Namibia. High-voltage clash against arch rivals Pakistan India won by 61 runs in Colombo, a result that effectively sealed their progress. In their final group game against Netherlands in Ahmedabad, India posted a strong score of 193/6, clinching the title Shivam DubeyExplosive 66 runs on 31 balls. Despite a spirited chase by the Dutch, India held on to win by 17 runs, extending their T20I winning streak to an incredible 12 matches.
This unbeaten run has been defined by a different “Player of the Match” in almost every game. Suryakumar Yadav And hardik pandya To Ishan Kishan And Dubey, showcasing a team where everyone is contributing to the collective goal.
Deep Dasgupta’s Prediction India XI:
Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Tilak Verma, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dubey, Rinku Singh, Washington Sundar, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah.
Also read: ICC announces full list of qualified teams for T20 World Cup 2028
