Overview:
At the Narendra Modi Stadium, the two teams will meet for the 1st time. SA have played thrice here and own two wins (L1). NZ have played once here, and they lost that contest.
South Africa and New Zealand gear up for match number 24 of the ICC T20 World Cup 2026, starting February 14. This is a massive game for both sides as it will perhaps indicate who will top Group D.
The Proteas and New Zealand are both quality sides, and this promises to be an enticing battle on the cards. They are part of Group D, which also consists of Afghanistan, Canada and the UAE.
Both teams have won their opening two matches. South Africa downed Canada by 57 runs in their 1st match. And then, they edged past Afghanistan, needing two Super Overs to dictate the show. New Zealand have been more clinical. They thrashed both Afghanistan and then the UAE while chasing. The Kiwis top Group D at the moment, ahead of South Africa.
South Africa T20I squad: Aiden Markram (c), Quinton de Kock (w), Ryan Rickelton, Dewald Brevis, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi, Jason Smith, George Linde, Anrich Nortje, Kwena Maphaka.
The South African unit will count upon their well drilled resources. They have a fiery all-round side on offer with a desired balance all around. How they handle the New Zealand bowlers will be key.
New Zealand T20I squad: Mitchell Santner (c), Finn Allen, Cole McConchie, Mark Chapman, Devon Conway, Jacob Duffy, Lockie Ferguson, Matt Henry, Daryl Mitchell, Kyle Jamieson, James Neesham, Glenn Phillips, Rachin Ravindra, Tim Seifert, Ish Sodhi, Ben Sears (reserve).
New Zealand have played a serious brand of cricket and will bank on themselves to come good. A lot of confidence will be riding on this New Zealand side as they aim to make it three out of three.
What is the H2H record between South Africa and New Zealand?
In terms of the head-to-head record, the two sides have met 18 times. South Africa have claimed 11 wins with the Kiwis winning 7. South Africa own a 4-0 win-loss record against NZ in T20 World Cups.
Probable XI of both teams
SA probable XI for the match against NZ: Aiden Markram (c), Quinton de Kock (wk), Ryan Rickelton, Dewald Brevis, Tristan Stubbs, David Miller, Corbin Bosch, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Marco Jansen, Lungi Ngidi.
NZ probable XI for the match versus SA: Finn Allen, Tim Seifert, Rachin Ravindra, Glenn Phillips, Daryl Mitchell, Michael Bracewell, Mark Chapman, Mitchell Santner, Jacob Duffy, Ish Sodhi, Matt Henry.
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Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad & Key Details of the Stadium
The Narendra Modi Stadium is the largest cricket stadium in the world. It can host up to 1,32,000 people. The stadium hosted the 2023 ODI World Cup final. It’s also set to be used at the 2030 Commonwealth Games. The first T20I held here was in 2021 between India and England.
What is the Pitch like at the Narendra Modi Stadium?
The pitch at the Narendra Modi Stadium is expected to provide a balanced contest between bat and ball. Batters will need to show patience early on, as scoring freely may not be easy at the start. However, once set, they can accelerate and post strong totals, especially in the latter half of the innings. For bowlers, wickets may come at a premium due to the flat nature of the surface and the large outfield, which often turns good shots into singles rather than boundaries. Bowlers will need to work hard for wickets and bowl nice varieties and in tight channels.
Key Stats & Records at the Narendra Modi Stadium
A total of 10 T20I matches have been played at the Narendra Modi Stadium.
South Africa are featuring in their 4th T20I here. They overcame Afghanistan and Canada in their T20 World Cup 2026 matches. Before that, they lost to India by 30 runs in December 2025.
New Zealand are playing their 2nd T20I here. They lost their only clash to India before this.
India own the highest total here at this venue, scoring 234/4 versus New Zealand in February 2023. India also scored 231/5 versus South Africa in December 2025.
South Africa’s best score here is 213/4 versus Canada.
New Zealand’s score of 66 is the lowest total here. It was versus India in 2023.
Former T20I star Virat Kohli has scored the most runs here (258). Among active players, Hardik Pandya has 179 runs. For South Africa, de Kock has managed 149 runs from three matches here.
Pandya and Shardul Thakur also have the joint-most wickets here (8 each). For SA, Lungi Ngidi picked a four-fer in the match against Canada. He then managed a three-wicket haul versus Afghanistan.
SA vs NZ: Weather Forecast – Will Rain Play a Role?
Ahmedabad is set for perfect cricket weather as South Africa face New Zealand at 7:00 PM IST. Temperatures will range between 22°C and 28°C, with humidity around 35–50 percent. Light winds of 6–8 km/h are expected, ensuring ideal conditions for an uninterrupted match.
SA vs NZ: Pitch Advantage for Which Side?
All things considered, South Africa will be the slight favourites given the nature of the wicket and them playing the last three T20Is held at this venue. They have plenty of batting firepower, which can unsettle the Kiwis. The bowling will also test New Zealand.
FAQs – Pitch Report for Narendra Modi Stadium
What is the pitch report for Narendra Modi Stadium?
The pitch at the Narendra Modi Stadium is expected to provide a balanced contest between bat and ball. Batters will need to show patience early on, as scoring freely may not be easy at the start. However, once set, they can accelerate and post strong totals, especially in the latter half of the innings. For bowlers, wickets may come at a premium due to the flat nature of the surface and the large outfield, which often turns good shots into singles rather than boundaries. Bowlers will need to work hard for wickets and bowl nice varieties and in tight channels.
What is SA and NZ’s record at the Narendra Modi Stadium?
At the Narendra Modi Stadium, the two teams will meet for the 1st time. SA have played thrice here and own two wins (L1). NZ have played once here, and they lost that contest.