South Africa benefited from India’s victory over Zimbabwe, Proteas team reached the semi-finals of T20 WC 2026

South Africa reaches the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup 2026: The Super-8 stage in the T20 World Cup 2026 has now reached a very exciting turn. In the match played on Thursday (26 February), India kept its hopes alive in the tournament by defeating Zimbabwe by 72 runs. With this victory, the picture of Super-8 Group-1 has also become clear to a great extent. South Africa have confirmed their place in the semi-finals, while Zimbabwe has been eliminated from the tournament. Now the second semi-finalist from Group-1 will be decided in the last match. Whereas from Group-2, England has already reached the last four and Sri Lanka is out of the race for the semi-finals.

Equation changed due to India’s victory

South Africa had defeated India in the opening match of Super-8, due to which the path of the Indian team started looking difficult. After this, West Indies made the situation more challenging by defeating Zimbabwe. However, on Thursday, South Africa made the equations easier for India by defeating West Indies. India needed to win both its remaining matches to reach the semi-finals. Team India achieved its first target by defeating Zimbabwe and now its eyes are on the next decisive match.

South Africa are through to the #T20WorldCup 2026 semi-finals👏 pic.twitter.com/qpqRbb9qAo

— ICC (@ICC) February 26, 2026

India-West Indies match became a knockout

After the win against Zimbabwe, India has 2 points in its account. West Indies also has 2 points in two matches and its net run rate is definitely better than India, but now the race for the semi-finals will not be decided by run rate but by win-loss. The last match of Super-8 will be played between India and West Indies on March 1. The team that wins this match will directly make it to the semi-finals. In such a situation, this match has become a complete knockout match and it will be a do or die situation for both the teams.

Eyes fixed on England-New Zealand match

The battle for the semi-finals in Group-2 also remains interesting. An important match will be played between England and New Zealand on Friday, on which Pakistan’s hopes will also rest. If England wins this match then Pakistan’s hopes of reaching the semi-finals will remain intact. Whereas New Zealand’s victory can take them directly to the last four with 5 points.

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However, England’s victory alone will not be enough for Pakistan. It will have to win against Sri Lanka by a big margin, so that New Zealand can be left behind on the basis of net run rate. In such a situation, the last matches of Super-8 will prove to decide the semi-final lineup of the tournament and fans can get to see many exciting matches.