South Africa head into the 2nd T20I at SuperSport Park with significant momentum after a clinical 9-wicket victory against West Indies in the series opener. With the ICC T20 World Cup 2026 just weeks away, both teams are using this series as a final dress rehearsal to fine-tune their squads.

Key storylines ahead of 2nd T20I

• Proteas reinforcements: After resting key players in Paarl, South Africa are expected to welcome back heavy hitters Quinton de Kock, Tristan Stubbs, and pace spearhead Marco Jansen. Their inclusion makes an already dominant side even more formidable.
• West Indies batting woes: The Caribbean side struggled to find rhythm in the first game, relying heavily on Shimron Hetmyer (48 off 32). To level the series, they need more substantial contributions from the top order, particularly Brandon King and Johnson Charles.
• George Linde’s purple patch: Notably, Linde has been the standout performer recently, taking 3/25 in the first T20I. His ability to provide control and wickets in the middle overs has become a vital asset for Aiden Markram.

SA vs WI 2nd T20I, Squads

South Africa: Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Aiden Markram (c), Ryan Rickelton (wk), Dewald Brevis, Rubin Hermann, Jason Smith, George Linde, Corbin Bosch, Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, Kwena Maphaka, Quinton de Kock, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Eathan Bosch, Marco Jansen, Tristan Stubbs

West Indies: Brandon King, Johnson Charles (wk), Matthew Forde, Sherfane Rutherford, Roston Chase (c), Shimron Hetmyer, Rovman Powell, Jason Holder, Romario Shepherd, Akeal Hosein, Jayden Seales, Shamar Joseph, Quentin Sampson, Shai Hope, Gudakesh Motie

SuperSport Park Pitch Report

The surface at SuperSport Park is a stark contrast to the slower deck seen in the series opener at Paarl. Known as one of the fastest and bounciest tracks in South Africa, this pitch is a seamer’s paradise that offers significant carry and zip, particularly with the new ball. While the extra bounce can trouble batters early on, the high altitude of the Highveld means the ball travels much further through the thin air, making it a “six-hitting” ground once a batter is set.

Statistically, pace bowlers have historically dominated here, accounting for nearly 80% of the wickets taken in T20Is at this venue, while spinners often struggle for rhythm. With an average first-innings score of 176 (and recent trends pushing closer to 190+), fans can expect a high-scoring thriller.

Also READ: South Africa register record win over West Indies in T20I series opener at Paarl

Supersport Park Stats & Records

• Total T20I Matches: 19
• Matches won batting first: 9
• Matches won bowling first: 9
• Average 1st Innings Score: 176
• Average 2nd Innings Score: 161
• Highest Total Recorded: 259/4 (18.5 Ovs) By South Africa vs West Indies
• Lowest Total Recorded: 100/10 (12.2 Ovs) By South Africa vs Pakistan
• Highest Score Chased: 259/4 (18.5 Ovs) By South Africa vs West Indies
• Lowest Score Defended: 126/5 (10 Ovs) By South Africa vs Sri Lanka

Also READ: SA vs WI 2026, T20I Series: Schedule, Broadcast and Live Streaming details – Where to watch in India, USA, South Africa and other countries

You don’t have permission to access “http://www.ndtv.com/india-news/ajit-pawar-plane-crash-death-funeral-baramati-today-maharashtra-bids-farewell-to-dada-ajit-pawars-funeral-today-10904281” on this server.

Reference #18.efdd417.1769663199.4ae2a917

https://errors.edgesuite.net/18.efdd417.1769663199.4ae2a917

NEW DELHI: MGNREGA will be the opposition’s principal issue to target the Modi govt during the budget session of Parliament, with its demand for the rural job scheme’s restoration likely to trigger stormy exchanges in both Lok Sabha and Rajya Sabha.Opposition INDIA bloc, which held a coordination meeting in the chamber of Congress president Mallikarjun Kharge on Wednesday ahead of the start of the session, also decided to fully participate in the session which includes the Union budget and the Motion of Thanks to the President’s joint address. The special intensive revision (SIR) of electoral rolls is another issue on the opposition’s agenda.In the strategy discussions, attended by Rahul Gandhi, DMK’s TR Baalu, RSP’s NK Premachandran, Shiv Sena (UBT)’s Arvind Sawant, SP’s Javed Ali Khan, CPM’s John Brittas, CPI’s P Sandosh, Congress’s KC Venugopal, Kodikunnil Suresh, Manickam Tagore, RJD’s Prem Chand Gupta, among others, the leaders decided to mark their protest over the job scheme as President Droupadi Murmu in her address to the joint sitting of Parliament on Wednesday mentioned VB-GRAMG that will replace MGNREGA. TMC did not attend the discussions.When the President’s speech mentioned the VB-GRAMG scheme, opposition MPs stood up and raised slogans. While the action riled the govt into slamming the opposition, Congress’s Jairam Ramesh said, “Today during the President’s address, all opposition parties most respectfully and in a dignified manner protested the bulldozed repeal of MGNREGA. The opposition will use all democratic means to demand the restoration of MGNREGA.”If the statement made clear the opposition’s intent to make the job scheme the front and centre of its parliamentary agenda, the same scenes may be witnessed during the presentation of the Union budget.The reason behind the focus on MGNREGA seems to be the upcoming five assembly elections and the unanimity among the parties on the issue. The belief among the opposition parties is that the disbanding of the job scheme poses a serious threat to the availability of distress employment for the poor in the future because of the shifting of a considerable financial burden on the states under VB-GRAMG.Since the subject would automatically become part of the discussion on the Union budget and then also figure in debate on the motion of thanks, it would provide ample opportunity to the rivals to amplify concerns and target BJP.However, there is some uncertainty in the INDIA bloc over its decision to focus on MGNREGA and to participate in the session, in view of what TMC may do after it comes to Parliament in the coming days, after the initial absence. The Mamata Banerjee outfit has in the past forced the hands of other allies with independent action.

Shivam Dube (PTI Photo)

NEW DELHI: On Wednesday, Shivam Dube didn’t just dismantle New Zealand’s bowling attack — he delivered a statement about his evolution as a T20 cricketer ahead of the much-awaited T20 World Cup at home. The India all-rounder’s explosive 65 off 23 balls was powered as much by a sharpened mindset as brute force, with Dube declaring he has become a “smarter” player thanks to regular opportunities at the highest level.Go Beyond The Boundary with our YouTube channel. SUBSCRIBE NOW!While his brutal 29-run over against leg-spinner Ish Sodhi stole the headlines, Dube quietly underlined another key upgrade in his game — comfort against pace. Three towering sixes off Jacob Duffy and Matt Henry made it clear that bowling fast is no longer a safe option against him.“It’s just the hard work which I’m doing. I’m getting better with my mindset because I’m playing all those matches and batting in that situation,” Dube said after the match. “So, I know what’s going to happen, what are the main things which a bowler is going to come to me.”Dube credited consistent game time for helping him read situations better and prepare for different challenges. He also pointed to the added responsibility with the ball as a factor in his growth, even though he didn’t bowl in this match.

“That’s the key point for my batting and bowling as well. I’m bowling thanks to Gauti bhai and Surya bhai. They have given me the bowling opportunity,” he said. “So, when you bowl, you become a little smart. I’m working on that as well and trying to develop some more skills.”The left-hander admitted that experience has transformed his approach over the past few months. “There is something called experience and that has come to me and that is going in the right direction,” Dube said. “All the players upgrade themselves… I can’t be the same as I was. I try to be a little better, a little smarter in the next game.”Dube’s 15-ball half-century — the third fastest in T20I history — came without chasing milestones. “I was focusing on every ball. I was not thinking about getting a fifty in 15 balls,” he said.Explaining the Sodhi assault, Dube revealed a ruthless clarity. “I knew that even he is a little scared, he was going to bowl me the bad ball. I was ready for that. So I wanted to dominate — and that is what I did.”

India and the EU recently announced the conclusion of what has been touted as the “mother of all deals”, but a key question remains: will Turkey be able to reroute its goods to India under the agreement? Officials have clarified that while Indian products can move into Turkiye through Europe, Turkish goods cannot enter India under FTA terms, even if shipped via EU ports. “Our goods go into the EU, and then they can go to any country with which the EU has a customs union, but Turkiye will not get the benefit because it is not part of the EU as a territory in the FTA. So, Turkiye cannot export to India and benefit from concessions,” said one official, who did not wish to be identified.Under the EU–Turkiye Customs Union, Ankara is required to align with the EU’s common external tariff, meaning that when the EU reduces duties for an FTA partner such as India, Turkiye must extend the same tariff benefit to Indian goods.This is because of Turkiye’s position in the union arrangement with the EU, which has been in force since 1996. The arrangement allows industrial goods and processed agricultural products to move freely between the EU and Turkiye without tariffs or quotas, while requiring Turkiye to apply the EU’s common external tariff on imports from third countries. The customs union, however, does not extend to primary agriculture, services, investment, government procurement or digital trade. India and the EU announced the conclusion of negotiations for the FTA on Tuesday, with the agreement expected to be signed and implemented within the year. Under the deal, preferential market access will be provided on 96.8% of tariff lines, covering 99.5% of India’s exports by volume and 90.7% by value to the EU, which will become duty-free. Officials explained that although Turkiye must mirror EU tariff reductions for FTA partners such as India, it does not gain reciprocal access because it is not a signatory to the India-EU agreement. “Turkish goods, however, cannot use the India-EU FTA to enter India duty-free, even if they are shipped via EU ports. They remain Turkish in origin and therefore do not meet the rules of origin under India’s FTA, which is signed with the EU and not with Turkiye,” said Ajay Srivastava, cofounder, Global Trade Research Initiative, as cited by ET. The clarification comes amid strained relations between New Delhi and Ankara following Turkiye’s backing of Islamabad and its condemnation of India’s strikes on terror camps in Pakistan in May under Operation Sindoor. Trade figures show that India’s exports to Turkiye declined by 14.1% to $5.71 billion in 2024–25 from $6.65 billion in the previous financial year, while imports from Turkiye fell 20.8% to around $3 billion. Turkiye accounts for about 1.3% of India’s total exports of $437 billion in 2023–24. India’s exports to Turkiye include mineral fuels and oil, electrical machinery and equipment, automobiles and parts, organic chemicals, pharmaceutical products, tanning and dyeing items, plastics and rubber, cotton, man-made fibres and filaments, and iron and steel. Imports from Turkiye comprise marble blocks and slabs, fresh apples, gold, vegetables, lime and cement, mineral oil, chemicals, natural or cultured pearls, and iron and steel.

Shivam Dube blazed away with a fifty of the highest quality, but his lone assault was not enough to save India from a 50-run defeat (Image credit: Agencies)

Shivam Dube produced a blazing half-century of rare quality, but it wasn’t enough to save India from a 50-run defeat against New Zealand in the fourth T20I on Wednesday. Dube’s explosive 65 off 23 balls (3×4, 7×6) stood out in India’s daunting chase of 216, yet the hosts were eventually bowled out for 165 as the Kiwis pulled the series back to 3-1.With Ishan Kishan sidelined due to injury, Abhishek Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav were tasked with setting up the chase. Instead, Abhishek departed first ball, slicing Matt Henry to Devon Conway at deep point. Suryakumar followed soon after, his gentle push brilliantly snaffled by Jacob Duffy in his follow-through, leaving India reeling at 9 for two.

Rinku Singh (39) and Sanju Samson (24) attempted to stabilise the innings but struggled to accelerate, both in the Powerplay and beyond. Rinku was trapped lbw by Zak Foulkes, while Samson — who had earlier produced a sumptuous flicked six off Duffy — was beaten by Mitchell Santner’s straight one and bowled.Hardik Pandya also failed to make an impact, and India slid to 82 for five in the 11th over, leaving Dube to shoulder the responsibility alongside Harshit Rana (9).Unfazed by the soaring asking rate, which hovered around 14, Dube batted with freedom and intent. Given a reprieve on 46 via DRS, he reignited Indian hopes by plundering 29 runs off Ish Sodhi’s third over, smashing a sequence of 4, 6, 4, 6, 6. He raced to his fifty in just 15 balls with a six over square leg off Duffy.The sixth-wicket stand added 63 runs, though Rana’s contribution amounted to just four. Dube’s remarkable innings ended in cruel fashion when Rana’s straight drive deflected off Matt Henry’s hand and crashed into the non-striker’s stumps, catching Dube well short. That moment effectively ended India’s chase.Earlier, New Zealand’s innings was anchored by Tim Seifert’s scintillating half-century. Seifert struck 62 off 36 balls (7×4, 3×6) and was the standout performer, though he lacked sustained support after India tightened the screws through the middle overs.Fresh from the Big Bash League, Seifert began aggressively, carving Arshdeep Singh for three consecutive fours — two off edges — before launching Harshit Rana for a towering six over long-on. He continued his assault in Rana’s next over with a six and four, and then sent Jasprit Bumrah to the sight-screen for another maximum.New Zealand raced to 50 in the fourth over and reached 71 without loss in the Powerplay. Seifert’s tempo allowed Devon Conway (44) to settle before accelerating. After crawling to 9 off 9 balls, Conway found his range, taking Ravi Bishnoi for two fours and a six, and then added 35 runs from his next 13 deliveries.However, Conway perished trying to clear deep cover off Kuldeep Yadav, ending a 100-run opening partnership. Seifert soon completed a 25-ball fifty, but India clawed back with four wickets for 37 runs, reducing New Zealand to 137 for four in 13.4 overs.While there was no single magical spell, India benefited from the visitors’ eagerness to sustain the early run rate of 12 an over. That over-ambition triggered a mini-collapse. Daryl Mitchell (39 not out off 18 balls) provided late impetus with some clean striking, lifting New Zealand beyond the 200 mark.