SA vs WI Pitch Report: There is going to be a big match in the Super-8 stage of ICC T20 World Cup 2026 on Thursday. The teams of South Africa, which are running in unbeatable rhythm, and West Indies, which are famous for their aggressive style, will be face to face. The match will be held at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, where there is a lot of discussion about the pitch.
How is the mood of the pitch?
The pitch of Narendra Modi Stadium is considered balanced. Both batsman and bowler can benefit on this pitch. The new ball gives good bounce to the fast bowlers, due to which there is a possibility of wickets falling in the initial overs. At the same time, spinners can also come into play as the match progresses.
Due to good bounce on the pitch, batsmen feel comfortable playing shots. If a batsman is set, then it is not difficult to hit big shots. This is the reason why high-scoring matches have also been seen here.
What do the statistics say?
Talking about T20 format, so far 16 T20 matches have taken place on this ground. Of these, 11 matches have been won by the team batting first, while 5 times the team chasing the target has been successful. The average score on this pitch while batting first has been around 174 runs, which shows that a competitive score can be made here.
Looking at these figures, the team winning the toss can decide to bat first. Chasing the target can be challenging especially in a pressure match like knockout.
Who has the upper hand?
West Indies has explosive batsmen who can change the course of the match in a few overs. South Africa’s bowling has been very impressive in recent matches. In such a situation, this clash can prove to be an interesting battle of batting vs bowling. Overall, a balanced contest is expected on the Ahmedabad pitch. The team which adopts better strategy according to the situation will come closer to victory.
Squads of both the teams
West Indies: Shai Hope (captain), Johnson Charles, Roston Chase, Matthew Forde, Shimron Hetmyer, Jason Holder, Akeal Hosein, Shamar Joseph, Brandon King, Gudakesh Moti, Rovman Powell, Sherfane Rutherford, Quentin Sampson, Jayden Seales, Romario Shepherd.
South Africa: Aiden Markram (captain), Quinton de Kock (wicketkeeper), Ryan Rickleton, Dewald Brewis, Tristan Stubbs, David Miller, Marco Yanson, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Keshav Maharaj, Corbin Bosch, Enrique Narkia, Kwena Mafaka, George Linde, Jason Smith.
