WATCH: Tilak Varma and Abhishek Sharma to be included in India's Playing 11 vs South Africa at Super 8 of T20 World Cup

Ahead of the Super 8 clash against South Africa, India's captain Suryakumar Yadav addressed the press conference at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. Suryakumar Yadav was asked multiple questions around the availability and inclusion of Indian opener Sanju Samson. Media asked whether team is looking to include Sanju Samson in the playing 11 since the batter has spent more hours in training sessions as compared to other batters. 

Earlier to this, it was speculated that either of Tilak Varma or Abhishek Sharma will be dropped from India's Playing 11 because of strike rate and form respectively. However, Suryakumar Yadav's bold statement in the pre-match press conference cleared the air where he specificially said - "Do you want me to drop Abhishek Sharma and Tilak Varma to make a place for Sanju Samson?" 

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India is set to face South Africa in the Super 8 on 22 February 

India vs South, the Group 1 Super 8 fixture at the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, is set to be played on 22 February at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad. Fans can enjoy the match from 7:00 PM IST. 

Probable XI of India and South Africa

India: Ishan Kishan, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav, Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakravarthy, Arshdeep Singh

South Africa: Aiden Markram, Quinton de Kock, Ryan Rickelton, Dewald Brevis, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Corbin Bosch, Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi