In the semi-final match, New Zealand won the toss, South Africa will bat first, see the playing 11 of both

By Samira Vishwas On Mar 5, 2026

SA vs NZ Semi-final: The first semi-final match of T20 World Cup 2026 is being played between South Africa and New Zealand at the historic ground Eden Gardens in Kolkata. New Zealand captain Mitchell Santner has decided to bowl first after winning the toss. This means that now the South African team will come out to bat first. In this semi-final match, both South Africa and New Zealand teams have made changes in their playing 11.

Changes in the playing 11 of South Africa and New Zealand in the semi-finals

In the semi-final match of T20 World Cup 2026, both South Africa and New Zealand have made changes in their playing 11. South African captain Adam Markram told during the toss that there have been three major changes in the team’s playing eleven. Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj and Marco Jansen have returned to the playing eleven of the team, who were rested in the last match. There has been a change in New Zealand’s playing. Jimmy Neesham has been included in place of Ish Sodhi in the playing 11 of the Kiwi team.

Such is the playing 11 of both the teams

South Africa’s playing 11: Aiden Markram (captain), Quinton de Kock (wk), Ryan Rickelton, Dewald Brewis, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Marco Janssen, Corbin Bosch, Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi.

New Zealand’s playing 11: Tim Seifert (wk), Finn Allen, Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Mark Chapman, Daryl Mitchell, Jimmy Neesham, Mitchell Santner (c), Cole McConchie, Matt Henry, Lockie Ferguson.

Toss Update🪙
🇳🇿 New Zealand have won the toss and elected to bowl first.
🔁Three changes for #TheProteas as Anrich Nortje, Kwena Maphaka and George Linde make way for Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada, and Keshav Maharaj.
Here’s how we line up for today’s Semi-Final. 🏏… pic.twitter.com/aFLGZhBNKt
— Proteas Men (@ProteasMenCSA) March 4, 2026

South Africa and New Zealand are clashing for the first time in the semi-finals of the T20 World Cup.

South Africa and New Zealand are facing each other in the first semi-final match in the history of T20 World Cup. Although the match has been played between the two teams in the group stage, but for the first time both the teams are playing the semi-final match against each other. South Africa and New Zealand have clashed a total of 5 times in T20 World Cup history. South Africa has defeated New Zealand every time. That means the Kiwi team has never been successful in defeating South Africa in the T20 World Cup. Now it remains to be seen who wins this time, because both the teams look very strong.

Also read: IND vs ENG: Where did Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan and Axar Patel reach Mumbai before the semi-finals, video surfaced.

New Zealand team has not lost a single match so far in T20 World Cup 2026

The South African team has not lost a single match so far in the T20 World Cup 2026. South Africa had won all four of its matches in the group stage. After this, his teams won in the Super-8 matches also. In such a situation, the South African team would like to continue its winning campaign and get a ticket to the final by defeating New Zealand. Whereas New Zealand has lost 2 matches in this tournament. New Zealand had to face defeat against South Africa in the group stage. After this, England defeated New Zealand in the Super-8. Now New Zealand would like to forget both these defeats and win the semi-finals. A tough competition can be seen between the two teams today.

Also read: Pakistan removed many big players including Babar Azam from the team, gave a chance to 6 new players, made them captain