IND vs SA: Will Sanju replace Abhishek? Captain Suryakumar Yadav gave a big statement on playing XI

IND vs SA, T20 World Cup 2026 Super-8: In the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, the Indian team will start the Super-8 stage with an important match against South Africa. This match between the two teams will be played on 22 February at Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad at 7 pm Indian time. In the press conference held before the match, captain Suryakumar Yadav gave many important hints regarding the team composition and strategy.

Clear indication on playing 11

There was a lot of talk about Sanju Samson getting a chance in place of opener Abhishek Sharma, who was out for zero in the last three matches. However, Suryakumar Yadav made it clear that the team management is in no mood for change at the moment. This means that Abhishek Sharma will be given another chance and he will be seen opening the innings with Ishan Kishan. It became clear from the captain’s statement that the team wants to maintain faith in the young players and does not want to make hasty changes.

Trust in Abhishek remains intact

T20 World Cup 2026 has been disappointing for Abhishek Sharma so far, but the team management is supporting him. The captain indicated that the team wants to maintain his confidence despite his poor form. Maintaining continuity in an important stage like Super-8 is also part of the strategy. In such a situation, Abhishek will have a golden opportunity to respond to the criticism.

Captain’s opinion on pitch and toss

On the question asked about the pitch of Narendra Modi Stadium, Suryakumar Yadav said that the Indian team is ready to play on any type of wicket. He said that the team has played in different conditions during the tournament and the players have understood how to handle the batting after the powerplay and how to finish the match.

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The captain also said that the toss is being given too much importance. According to him, if a strong score is made in the first innings, then the bowling unit is capable of defending the target even in dew conditions. His confidence shows that the team is fully prepared strategically. This Super-8 match is important for both the teams and the Indian team would like to start the campaign with a win.