There will be 3 changes in Team India’s playing 11 against South Africa, know who will be out and who will get a chance.

IND vs SA: The Super-8 matches of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 are going to be played from January 21. The Indian cricket team is going to play its first match of Super-8 with South Africa. The 43rd match of T20 World Cup 2025 between India and South Africa will be played on 22 February at Narendra Modi Cricket Stadium in Ahmedabad from 7:00 pm. In this match, three major changes can possibly be seen in the playing-11 of Team India. So let us know about these changes in the Indian playing-11.

India’s weakness became number-3

Number three remains a weakness for the Indian cricket team. Tilak Verma bats at number 3. Ever since he returned to the team after recovering from injury, he has not been able to perform as per expectations. Tilak Verma has scored 106 runs in 4 matches in T20 World Cup 2026. During this period, his average was 20.56 and strike rate was 120.46. He is playing very slowly, he plays the ball more and is able to score runs. Tilak now seems to be becoming the weakness of the team.

In such a situation, Team India can remove Tilak Verma in the Super-8 matches and give Sanju Samson a chance to play at number 3. Sanju is known for his explosive batting. Those spinners score runs with excellent strike rates. In such a situation, Sanju can be a good option for number-3. He has batted brilliantly at number 3 for Rajasthan Royals in the IPL.

🚨 UPDATE ON INDIA’S PLAYING 11 VS SOUTH AFRICA 🚨

– Tilak Varma is set to dropped from playing11.
Sanju Samson replaces Tilak Varma.
– Kuldeep Yadav replaces Arshdeep Singh.
– Axar Patel is back in playing 11.
– Axar Patel replace Washington Sundar in playing 11. pic.twitter.com/euETQzcpsS

— Cricket Central (@CricketCentral) February 20, 2026

Arshdeep Singh may be out of playing-11

Arshdeep Singh, the most successful bowler of the Indian cricket team in T20 International cricket, may be out of the playing-11 against South Africa. In his place, Kuldeep Yadav can be given a chance in the playing-11. The Ahmedabad pitch was helping the spinners against Netherlands. In such a situation, Team India can field one more extra spinner against South Africa. Both Kuldeep and Arshdeep are performing brilliantly but both do not fit in the team combination. In such a situation, only one can get a chance in the playing-11.

वी वी वी वी#TeamIndia end the league stage with a 4⃣th consecutive victory ✅

Bring on the Super 8s 🔥

Scorecard ▶️ https://t.co/SdXngdnwKB#T20WorldCup | #MenInBlue | #INDvNED️pic.twitter.com/pgi086F3ls

— BCCI (@BCCI) February 18, 2026

Akshar will enter and Sundar will leave.

Team India had given Washington Sundar a chance to play in its last group-stage match against Netherlands. Now Akshar Patel may return to the team in his place. By excluding Sundar, Akshar will be given a chance in the playing-11 against South Africa. Vice-captain Akshar Patel is in excellent form, while Sundar is making a comeback after injury.

India’s probable playing-11 against South Africa

Abhishek Sharma, Ishan Kishan, Tilak Verma/Sanju Samson, Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dubey, Rinku Singh, Washington Sundar/Akshar Petal Arshdeep Singh/Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakraborty and Jasprit Bumrah.

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