India will take on South Africa in their lone Warm-up match of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 at the Dr DY Patil Sports Academy in Navi Mumbai on Wednesday, February 04. Notably, these two teams have met just once in a T20I warm-up match that took place during the 2016 T20 World Cup in India.
India heads into the T20 World Cup 2026 both as hosts and favourites, and the recent series win against New Zealand has only strengthened that belief. The squad looks balanced across departments. Batting remains India's biggest strength, with depth, firepower, and flexibility to dominate in home conditions, while the spin attack is perfectly suited for Indian pitches. The New Zealand series also witnessed skipper Suryakumar Yadav ending his lean patch. Surya finished as Player of the Series, scoring three fifties in five innings. It is worth noting that since the last T20 World Cup, the Men in India have won all bilateral series in the shortest format and also clinched the Asia Cup in 2025.
Meanwhile, South African players are coming on the back of a strong SA20 season, with several of them carrying form and confidence into the global event. While injuries have slightly disrupted their build-up, the Proteas still have a strong squad. The Aiden Markram-led team has a mix of experience and youth, along with a formidable pace attack suited for big tournaments. As finalists in the previous edition, South Africa remain a serious contender, eager to turn past heartbreak into history and finally claim their maiden T20 World Cup title.
