South Africa face the United Arab Emirates in a Group D contest that brings together tournament momentum and survival pressure at the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. The match at Delhi sets an in-form South African side against a UAE team searching for consistency.
Match details
Venue: Arun Jaitley Stadium
Date: Wednesday, February 18
Time: 11:00 AM IST, 10:30 AM PST, 5:30 AM GMT
Team overviews
South Africa arrive with authority and clarity. They sit at the top of Group D after winning all three matches and securing qualification for the Super Eight. The Proteas opened with a commanding 57-run win over Canada, handled pressure superbly in a tied contest against Afghanistan by winning the second Super Over, and then produced a composed seven-wicket victory over New Zealand. Their net run rate of 1.477 underlines control with both bat and ball, and the squad has shown depth across conditions.
The United Arab Emirates have taken a more uneven path. They suffered a heavy 10-wicket defeat to New Zealand but responded with resilience to beat Canada by five wickets. A narrow loss to Afghanistan stalled their progress, leaving them with one win from three matches. The UAE now confront a steep challenge against a settled and confident opponent, with execution under pressure likely to define their chances.
Key players
For South Africa, Aiden Markram leads from the front. He has already scored 150 runs in three innings, including a match-winning 86 not out against New Zealand, and he anchors the middle order with intent and control. Lungi Ngidi has provided the cutting edge with the ball. His eight wickets in three games place him among the tournament’s leading wicket-takers, and his powerplay and death-over spells shape South Africa’s plans.
The UAE look to captain Muhammad Waseem for impact at the top and to their bowling unit for early breakthroughs. Discipline and fielding standards will matter as much as individual brilliance against a side that punishes mistakes.
Head-to-head record
This match marks the first ever T20I meeting between South Africa and the United Arab Emirates.
Pitch report
Matches at the Arun Jaitley Stadium have produced tight contests, with batting proving challenging. Bowlers have enjoyed consistent assistance when they maintain pressure, and wickets tend to fall once batters force the pace. Teams that read lengths early and rotate strike effectively should gain an advantage, while totals built on patience often defend well.
Probable match scenarios
South Africa may choose to attack early with the ball, aiming to expose the UAE middle order before settling into control through spin in the middle overs. With a deep batting lineup, the Proteas can pace a chase or set a competitive total without undue risk.
The UAE need early wickets and sharp catching to stay in the contest. If they limit South Africa during the powerplay and keep the required rate in check, the game can remain competitive into the final overs.
Probable playing XIs
South Africa: Aiden Markram (captain), Quinton de Kock (wicketkeeper), Ryan Rickelton, Dewald Brevis, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi.
United Arab Emirates: Aryansh Sharma (wicketkeeper), Muhammad Waseem (captain), Alishan Sharafu, Sohaib Khan, Syed Haider, Harshit Kaushik, Muhammad Arfan, Haider Ali, Simranjeet Singh, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Jawadullah.
Live streaming and broadcast
India: JioStar Network Channels on television and JioHotstar on the app and website.
Pakistan: No official broadcaster announced in the provided details.
United Kingdom: No official broadcaster announced in the provided details.
Australia: No official broadcaster announced in the provided details.
Global viewers: Streaming and broadcast information outside India has not been specified in the provided details.
Match prediction
South Africa enter as clear favourites due to form, balance, and experience in high-pressure situations. The UAE can compete through discipline and smart bowling, but across 40 overs South Africa hold the edge. A professional performance from the Proteas should see them extend their unbeaten run, while the UAE will aim to take positives from execution and fight.
