South Africa vs Canada - (Source:X.com)
For the 13th match of the T20 World Cup 2026, the caravan moves to Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, where South Africa will face Afghanistan in a crucial Group D fixture. Notably, the Proteas are fresh off a win against Canada, while Afghanistan suffered a heartbreak against New Zealand.
It is a crucial game because the two teams are placed in a group of death involving New Zealand, who have won two out of two. Therefore, the pressure is on Afghanistan and the Proteas to stay alive in the tournament.
South Africa vs Afghanistan - Preview
Talking about the Proteas, they registered a comfortable win over Canada on February 9. The Rainbow Nation, batting first, put 213 runs on the board, courtesy of a fifty from skipper Aiden Markram. In reply, Lungi Ngidi’s four-fer reduced Canada to just 156 runs, resulting in a 57-run win.
Now, Proteas have three matches scheduled at this venue and are well aware of the surface at the Narendra Modi Stadium. Rest, they have no injury concerns, and this article will shed light on South Africa’s probable XI for the upcoming fixture against Afghanistan.
South Africa Playing XI vs Afghanistan- Match 13
Openers and Top Order (Aiden Markram, Quinton de Kock, Ryan Rickelton)
South Africa have a solid top-order batting unit. Skipper Aiden Markram and Quinton de Kock registered a 70-run stand for the opening wicket. Meanwhile, Markram scored 59 (32), while the southpaw scored 25 off 22.
Ryan Rickelton also continued with the pace and scored a brilliant 33 (21), which featured three fours and a solitary six. Therefore, the Proteas will not make any changes to their top-order as they too are playing similar to India’s philosophy, which is for every batter to go out there and hammer every ball for a boundary.
Middle Order and All Rounders (Dewald Brevis, Tristan Stubbs, David Miller, Marco Jansen)
The Proteas have one of the most threatening middle orders in the entire tournament. Dewald Brevis is struggling for consistency, but his prowess needs no introduction as the right-handed batter slammed a century in the SA20 final, where the rest of the batter struggled for runs.
Tristan Stubbs and David Miller are also in good touch as they stitched a crucial 75-run stand for the 5th wicket. Meanwhile, Marco Jansen didn’t get to bat, but picked up two crucial wickets and registered an economical spell.
Bowlers (Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Keshav Maharaj, Corbin Bosch)
As mentioned above, Lungi Ngidi picked up a four-fer and will again lead the bowling attack, alongside Kagiso Rabada, who picked up a solitary wicket.
Keshav Maharaj didn’t look in fine tune, but Corbin Bosch covered it up with an economical spell. Therefore, South Africa are not expected to make any changes and will go ahead with the same XI they featured against Canada.
South Africa Playing XI vs Afghanistan- Match 13, T20 World Cup 2026
Aiden Markram, Quinton de Kock, Ryan Rickelton, Dewald Brevis, Tristan Stubbs, David Miller, Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Keshav Maharaj, Corbin Bosch
.jpg?type=mq "PSL 11: All you need to know!")
