ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026
Match Details
Match: South Africa vs United Arab Emirates – Group D
Date: 18 February 2026
Day: Wednesday
Venue: Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi
Time: 11:00 AM (Local) / 11:00 AM IST
Live Telecast & Streaming
Live Telecast: Star Sports Network
Live Streaming: JioHotstar
Probable Playing XI
South Africa Probable XI
Aiden Markram (c), Quinton de Kock (wk), Ryan Rickelton, Dewald Brevis, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje
UAE Probable XI
Muhammad Waseem (c), Aryansh Sharma (wk), Alishan Sharafu, Sohaib Khan, Syed Haider, Muhammad Farooq, Dhruv Parashar, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Jawadullah, Muhammad Rohid Khan, Haider Ali
Pitch Report
The Arun Jaitley Stadium pitch traditionally offers a balanced surface where batters can play their strokes freely once settled, while spinners often become effective during the middle overs due to the slightly slower nature of the wicket. Fast bowlers may find some early assistance with the new ball. A first-innings total around 165–175 is expected to be competitive.
Weather Report
Delhi is expected to witness warm daytime conditions with temperatures around 26–30°C. Rain interruptions are unlikely, ensuring a full match.
Match Prediction
South Africa enters the contest as strong favorites with a powerful batting lineup featuring Quinton de Kock, David Miller, and Dewald Brevis, supported by an experienced pace attack led by Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje. UAE, however, has shown resilience in the tournament and will rely heavily on captain Muhammad Waseem and middle-order batter Alishan Sharafu to challenge the Proteas. Considering overall squad strength and recent performances, South Africa holds a clear advantage, though UAE will aim to create an upset with an exceptional all-round performance.
Key Players
South Africa
Quinton de Kock: Explosive opener capable of providing rapid starts.
David Miller: Experienced finisher known for match-winning late-overs hitting.
Kagiso Rabada: Strike pacer effective in both powerplay and death overs.
UAE
Muhammad Waseem: Aggressive captain-opener who sets the tempo.
Alishan Sharafu: Reliable middle-order batter capable of stabilizing the innings.
Junaid Siddique: Experienced seamer who can deliver key breakthroughs.