India will take on South Africa in their only warm-up match ahead of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 on February 4 at the Dr. DY Patil Sports Academy, Navi Mumbai.
The contest serves as India’s final dress rehearsal before the defending champions begin their title defence against the USA on February 7.
India enter the warm-up with strong momentum after recent series wins, having beaten South Africa 3-1 and New Zealand 4-1 in the build-up to the tournament. South Africa, meanwhile, will look to use this fixture to settle combinations, test their bowling plans and gain match rhythm before the group stage begins.
Unlike official T20Is, warm-up games allow teams to rotate freely, with all 15 squad members permitted to take part, although only 11 can be on the field at a time. That flexibility makes this match crucial for both teams, especially in terms of finalising their best XI and assessing form under match pressure.
India vs South Africa Warm-up: Toss Update
India captain Suryakumar Yadav won the toss and opted to bat first in the T20 World Cup 2026 warm-up match.
India vs South Africa Warm-up: Pitch report and conditions
The DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai is widely regarded as a high-scoring venue, known for a true-bounce surface that encourages strokeplay. With no rain forecast, a full game is expected, though the evening could bring high humidity and dew, which may influence the toss decision and make chasing a slightly favourable option.
India vs South Africa Warm-up: Players to watch
All eyes will be on , who has been in terrific touch in recent outings. The Indian captain has struck three half-centuries in his last four innings, and the warm-up provides him another chance to enter the World Cup with maximum momentum. India’s opening combination will also be closely monitored, with Ishan Kishan pushing strongly for a spot after returning to form with explosive knocks, including a 103-run innings against New Zealand, keeping Sanju Samson under pressure for the opener’s role.
India’s aggressive start could be shaped by Abhishek Sharma, who has enjoyed a favourable matchup against South Africa all-rounder Marco Jansen in T20s. Sharma’s strike rate against Jansen stands at 217, and he is yet to be dismissed by the left-armer – a battle that could define the powerplay phase.
South Africa, on the other hand, will bank on skipper Aiden Markram to lead from the front, though he has historically struggled against India’s left-arm pace option Arshdeep Singh, having been dismissed four times by him in T20Is. The warm-up gives Markram an opportunity to iron out that weakness before the high-stakes group matches begin.
India vs South Africa Warm-up: Match Details
Match: India vs South Africa, T20 World Cup 2026 Warm-up
Date: February 4, 2026
Venue: Dr. DY Patil Sports Academy, Navi Mumbai
India vs South Africa Warm-up: Head-to-Head (T20Is)
Matches: 35
India won: 21
South Africa won: 13
No Result: 1
India vs South Africa Warm-up: Live Streaming Details
Where to watch India vs South Africa warm-up match live?
The match between India and South Africa will be broadcast on the Star Sports Network, while live streaming will be available on the JioHotstar app and website.
India vs South Africa Warm-up: Full Squads
India
Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan (wk), Suryakumar Yadav (c), Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah, Washington Sundar, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav.
South Africa
Aiden Markram (c), Quinton de Kock (wk), Dewald Brevis, Ryan Rickelton, George Linde, Jason Smith, Tristan Stubbs, Corbin Bosch, Keshav Maharaj, Kwena Maphaka, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada, David Miller.