In the 20 months since they played out an epic final in the previous T20 World Cup, India and South Africa have locked horns eight times. Suryakumar Yadav’s men have lorded those showdowns 6-2, winning by identical 3-1 margins in South Africa in November 2024 and at home last December. But neither that, nor the fact that India hold a significant 21-13 edge in head-to-heads, will count for anything here. Sunday will mark the first outing for both all-win sides in the Super Eights. South Africa have played here thrice previously in the last fortnight, but India know this venue extremely well, having had plenty of red and white-ball experience internationally and at the franchise level. There is no element of surprise on any front; the sides are familiar with each other’s brands of play as well as strengths and weaknesses. Sunday, therefore, will be decided by who plays better on the right night rather than any sleight of hand or a dramatic alteration in game plans. South Africa have been in prime form, brushing aside challengers New Zealand and Afghanistan in what was projected as the Group of Death. India haven’t yet touched top gear, but have still been unstoppable, showcasing their adaptability and the propensity to think on their feet on being greeted by pitches that have compelled them to dial down their all-out aggression to a significant degree. In their last three outings, India have found right-arm off-spin with the new ball a problem area, and they can expect to be tested up front with that variation by South African captain Aiden Markram. The onus will be on the left-handed opening duo of the irrepressible Ishan Kishan and the run-less Abhishek Sharma to undertake the twin responsibilities of assessing the conditions and relaying information back to the dugout, and getting on the bike and racing away if, for the first time in five games, they have a batting beauty to contend with. Abhishek’s tournament has yet to get going and if he is feeling self-imposed heat after a hat-trick of noughts, that’s perfectly understandable. But the opener has the total backing of the team management; there is also something to be said for the resilience of youth and the 25-year-old has revealed himself to be a sponge that can absorb pressure superbly. This is uncharted territory for him; expect a stirring riposte as India eye a winning start to their Super Eights campaign.
22 February,2026 09:42 AM IST | Ahmedabad | R KaushikIndia vice-captain Smriti Mandhana said the bold approach of Jemimah Rodrigues helped her find the perfect rhythm after a tepid beginning to the innings, which played a defining role in her side’s thrilling 17-run victory over Australia in the third and final T20I here on Saturday. Mandhana smashed 82 off 55 balls (8x4, 3x6), while Jemimah Rodrigues struck 59 off 46 deliveries as the two senior batters stitched a commanding 121-run stand to propel India to 176 for six after electing to bat. India’s bowlers then seized control as young spinner Shreyanka Patil (3-22) and pace spearhead Renuka Singh (1-29) ripped through the top order to leave Australia reeling at 32 for 3. The early strikes set the tone for a dominant display as India eventually restricted hosts to 159 for 9. Young left-arm spinner Shree Charani (3-32) underlined her credentials as well. “When she [Jemimah] came in, I think I was 16-ball 15 [runs] and still getting my timing and she came in, got three or four boundaries, got the momentum going and I could take some time,” Mandhana said in the post-match presentation. “Those small things don’t really get noticed, but I feel when she [Jemimah] came in and got those quick 2-3 boundaries, it calmed me down as well. So, credit to her for coming in and playing that sort of a knock,” said Mandhana about her innings, which helped India win its first T20I series Down Under after 2016. Mandhana said that beating Australia was a remarkable achievement but added that the team’s focus now shifts to their next challenge, the three-match ODI series starting in Brisbane on Tuesday. “It was good to contribute to the series win. Beating Australia in Australia is something really special. I’m really happy for the team and glad that I could contribute. Jemi coming in and making me run all those twos, but yeah, it’s a really good partnership between Jemi and me. “We did beat them in 2016 when we had come here, but I think we’ve played T20 after a very long time in Australia, so beating them is really nice, but we will move on to the ODI series and not celebrate too much,” added Mandhana. India skipper Harmanpreet Kaur praised Mandhana and Jemimah. “It [win] means a lot, it’s a complete team effort. So really good to see that everybody’s coming up and contributing. Every partnership was very important. That’s what we discussed in the team meetings, that we have to keep taking the responsibility. They both played a very big role,” she said. 2016The last time India defeated Aus women in a series Down Under — in T20Is by a 2-1 margin 9No of years since Australia women lost a white-ball series at home 8No of 50-plus scores for Smriti Mandhana vs Australia in WT20Is — the most by any player 121No of runs scored during Smriti Mandhana and Jemimah Rodrigues’s partnership vs Australia — India’s highest ever for the second wicket in WT20Is 2500No of WT20I runs completed by Jemimah Rodrigues during her 59 against Australia on Saturday — only the third Indian to do so after Smriti Mandhana and Harmanpreet Kaur 350No of international games played by Ellyse Perry — the first Australian women’s cricketer to do so This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
22 February,2026 09:26 AM IST | Adelaide | PTIEngland captain Harry Brook on Saturday admitted underestimating some teams in their group and promised to dish out stronger performances in the Super 8 stage in the T20 World Cup. England, the two-time champions, have been far from convincing thus far with three nervy victories against associate nations and a loss at the hands of former champs West Indies. They nearly lost to lowly Nepal before scraping to a four-run win, suffered a comprehensive 30-run defeat to former champions WI, before beating Scotland and Italy to reach the Super 8s. They face Sri Lanka in their first Super 8s match here on Sunday. “It was obviously a niggly start to the competition. We probably underestimated a few of the sides and they put up a really good fight and yeah, look, we came here to get through that stage and thankfully we have, so we’re here in the Super 8s and that’s our main focus now,” Brook said during the pre-match press conference. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
22 February,2026 09:19 AM IST | Pallekele | PTIWho “deals with the pressure better” will decide the India-South Africa Super Eights match, a repeat of the T20 World Cup final two years ago, said Quinton de Kock on Saturday. The two unbeaten teams are familiar foes and both came through their T20 World Cup groups with perfect four-out-of-four records ahead of the clash in Ahmedabad on Sunday. Aiden Markram’s SA toured India late last year, losing 3-1 in a T20 series. “I think that’s what’s going to make for quite a good game tomorrow, because we’ve played against each other quite a bit over the last two months,” said SA opener De Kock. “And to be honest, the teams haven’t really changed much. So, it’s more when you’re out there on the pressure side, who deals with the pressure better and wins the small moments in the game,” he added. Opener Abhishek Sharma has recorded three consecutive ducks, but De Kock did not read too much into it. “He’s the number one T20 batsman in the world at the moment, according to the rankings, so he must keep doing what he’s doing,” said de Kock of the 25-year-old Abhishek. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
22 February,2026 09:16 AM IST | Ahmedabad | AFPTeam India are going into the Super 8s with an all-win record, yet there are a few areas they would look to iron out before the knockout stage. The biggest concern is the form of Abhishek Sharma and the vulnerability of the top order against spinners. The second is the fielding, especially catching, which has been rather poor. As for the bowling, they are well endowed, with Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, and Washington Sundar on the bench. Abhishek Sharma Surely, the team management would like Abhishek to regain the form he displayed against South Africa in the bilateral series a few months back. At the pre-match media interaction, skipper Suryakumar Yadav said, “I am confident he will be among runs soon. But even otherwise, there is no panic. He was blasting runs and covering up for other batters who could not get going in the last series. Now we are all there to cover up for him.” He further said, “In every match there have been a couple of batters who have taken up the responsibility when others have failed. With Ishan Kishan in scintillating form, Tilak Varma, me, and down to Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube, each has the capability to take the match away single-handedly.” When asked if power hitters like Dube and Pandya could be sent up the order, he said, “Much depends on the start we get. If we are just a couple of wickets down in the 14th over or so, surely we can think of promoting Dube and Hardik. In fact, barring the openers, the other batters realise they have to be flexible depending on the situation of the game.”
22 February,2026 09:11 AM IST | Ahmedabad | Santosh SuriSkipper Radha Yadav produced an excellent all-round effort to power India A into the final of the Women's Rising Stars T20 Asia Cup with a five-wicket victory over Sri Lanka A here on Friday. Sri Lanka elected to bat after winning the toss, but the decision backfired spectacularly. The Indian bowlers, led by Radha, ran through the line-up to bowl them out for a paltry 118. The left-arm spinner returned with fine figures of 4 for 19. She was ably supported by another left-arm spinner Tanuja Kanwar (2/20) and leg-spinner Prema Rawat (2/9). For Sri Lanka, opener Sanjana Kavindi (31, 35b) offered a token fight. The Lankans were placed at 71 for two in the 10th over but could not counter the Indian spinners from that point, losing the remaining eight wickets for 47 runs in a little over nine overs. The only bright spot in their innings was a 36-run alliance between Kavindi and fellow opener Hansima Karunaratne (14). India did not have too many moments of worry during the chase, apart from losing three wickets for 21 runs at ne stage. That included top-scorer Vrinda Dinesh (42). But with Radha making an unbeaten 31 off 18 balls with seven fours, India sauntered past the rages in 13.3 overs. In the final, India will face the winner of the other semifinal between Bangladesh and Pakistan which will be played later in the day. Brief scores: Sri Lanka A Women: 118 all out in 19.4 overs (Sanjana Kavindi 31; Radha Yadav 4/19, Prema Rawat 2/9, Tanuja Kanwar 2/20) lost to India A Women: 119/5 in 13.3 overs (Vrinda Dinesh 42, Radha Yadav 31 not out; Shashini Gimhani 2/33) by 5 wickets. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
21 February,2026 10:27 AM IST | Bangkok | PTIIndia will need their batting big guns to fire collectively against an experienced Australian bowling group in the third and final women's T20 International to seal a historic maiden series triumph Down Under, here on Saturday. Despite registering a few victories in the past, the Indian women are yet to score a bilateral series win in Australia across all three formats. To change that script, India need a better batting effort here and it starts from openers Smriti Mandhana and Shafali Verma. Both Smriti and Shafali got starts but failed to kick on, impeding India's relatively easy-looking chase of 164 in the second match. The veteran Aussie trio of Kim Garth, Annabel Sutherland and Sophie Molineux exploited that opening, getting rid of five Indian batters for a mere seven runs to wreck the chase. But the Adelaide pitch offers a lot more trueness than its counterpart at Canberra, and the Indian batters should be able to trust their pick-up shots here. An excellent outfield also adds value to the drive here. Skipper Harmanpreet Kaur, Jemimah Rodrigues and Richa Ghosh love the ball coming on to the bat, and they can expect some assistance here. However, the smooth nature of the ground also puts an onus on Indian pacers -- Renuka Singh, Arundhati Reddy, Kranti Goud and Amanjot Kaur -- to be steady in their lines, as the Aussie batters can quite ruthlessly exploit any slack. In that context, no one is a bigger threat than young and prolific Georgia Voll, who has seamlessly taken over the opening role from the now-retired Meg Lanning and Alyssa Healy. Those are massive shoes to fill, but the 22-year-old has been nothing less than remarkable so far. The Indian pacers will have to stop Voll in her tracks, and the spinners -- Deepti Sharma and Sree Charani -- too need to chip in during the middle overs. It is mandatory to keep the range-hitters Sutherland and Ash Gardner and the innovative Phoebe Litchfield quiet post the Powerplay segment. This story has been sourced from a third party syndicated feed, agencies. Mid-day accepts no responsibility or liability for its dependability, trustworthiness, reliability and data of the text. Mid-day management/mid-day.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content in its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever
21 February,2026 10:25 AM IST | Adelaide | PTIMumbai-based former Jammu & Kashmir pacer Deepak Pandit believes J&K’s maiden entry into the Ranji Trophy final is extra special given the snow factor in the region restricts year-round training. “It’s really tough to practice throughout the year as there is snow for almost six months in Kashmir. That’s why this achievement [maiden Ranji final entry] is a dream come true for cricketers from the region. J&K have been consistent performers in the last few years, and I have no doubt that we will beat Karnataka in the final [beginning in Hubballi on February 24],” Pandit, who represented the J&K senior team between 1982 and 1988 after coming through the ranks in the U-19 and U-22 age groups besides playing for North Zone, told mid-day after pacer Auqib Nabi’s nine-wicket match haul (5-87 and 4-36) helped J&K beat Bengal by six wickets in the Ranji semi-final at Kalyani on Wednesday. Pandit, who currently represents the Indian Cricketers Association (ICA) on the Mumbai Cricket Association’s Apex Council, also credited BCCI chief Mithun Manhas for the J&K team’s success. “Credit should go to Mithun Manhas too as he has made a big difference in J&K cricket. Before becoming BCCI chief, he was an administrator [in JKCA] for five, six years during which he worked a lot for the region’s cricket and cricketers. Head coach Ajay Sharma also deserves credit for this achievement,” Pandit concluded.
21 February,2026 10:24 AM IST | Mumbai | Subodh MayureOpener Yashasvi Jaiswal may not be part of India’s squad at the ongoing T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka, but he’s still grabbing plenty of eyeballs halfway around the world. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Yashasvi Jaiswal (@yashasvijaiswal28) The southpaw Instagrammed pictures, roaming around London, while wearing a black cardigan with a blue sweater underneath. He was even seen sporting a moustache. Jaiswal’s post earned a whopping six lakh-plus ‘likes.’ He will next be seen in action at the IPL, which begins on March 26, playing for Rajasthan Royals.
21 February,2026 10:23 AM IST | Mumbai | A CorrespondentFormer India skipper Rohit Sharma has got an IPL hat-trick up his sleeve — for Deccan Chargers in 2009 (4-6 vs MI) — but on Friday, the 38-year-old showed that he’s equally adept at handling three balls at once. In an Instagram story posted by the opener, Rohit can be seen showing off his juggling skills with three plastic balls, at what looks like a kid’s play area. Interestingly, Rohit, who retired from T20Is after leading the Men in Blue to glory at the 2024 T20 World Cup in the Caribbean and USA, is juggling two roles. Besides being an international cricketer, he is also ICC’s brand ambassador for this T20 World Cup in India and Sri Lanka.
21 February,2026 10:21 AM IST | Mumbai | A CorrespondentEightNo. of times India have scored 200 or more against South Africa in T20Is, all while batting first FourNo. of times SA have scored more then 200 against India while batting second; three of those have come in a losing cause ZeroNo. of times India have won a T20I against SA while chasing 200 or more, in their three previous meetings 283-1Runs scored by India against SA in Johannesburg in 2024; this remains the highest T20I innings total between the two nations ThreeNo. of times Arshdeep Singh has dismissed an opener in the first over in his last five T20s vs SA (including the T20 World Cup warm-up match) 70.85Tilak Varma’s average (minimum four T20Is) against SA — the highest among players from both countries in T20Is. Tilak also holds the record for the most runs scored by an Indian vs SA in T20Is (496 in 10 matches) 100India’s winning percentage in the last five T20Is at Ahmedabad — they have beaten England twice and registered one win each against New Zealand, SA and the Netherlands EightNo. of times India have batted first in nine T20Is in Ahmedabad — they won six of those matches ThreeNo. of times India have posted above 200 in the last four T20Is in Ahmedabad, with their highest being 234-4 against New Zealand in 2023 23No. of wickets claimed by India pacer Arshdeep against SA — the highest among players from both teams in T20Is
21 February,2026 08:06 AM IST | Mumbai | Rohan KoliADVERTISEMENT
