The stage is set for South Africa to square off against Canada in Group C, Match 9 of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad on February 9.
South Africa enter the T20 World Cup as the runners-up from 2024, having fallen to India in the final. The Proteas will be eager to kick off their campaign with a commanding performance. Aiden Markram will captain the side, which boasts top talents like Tristan Stubbs, Quinton de Kock, Kagiso Rabada, and Keshav Maharaj.
Canada’s journey to the T20 World Cup 2026 comes on the back of a stellar unbeaten run in the Americas Regional Qualifier. They made an impressive entry in 2024 with a famous victory over Ireland. Dilpreet Bajwa takes the helm as captain, with Navneet Dhaliwal, Ravinderpal Singh, Shivam Sharma, and Shreyas Movva all set to feature.
SA vs CAN Match details
| Fixture | SA vs CAN : 9th Match,T20World Cup 2026 |
| Date | February 9th, 2026 (Monday) |
| Time | 7:00 PM IST |
| Toss time | 6:30 PM IST |
| Ground | Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad |
Pitch report
The pitch is likely to provide a balanced contest between batters and bowlers. Batter will have to take their time to settle down before going for shots and scoring runs in the latter part of the innings. Bowlers may struggle to find breakthroughs, as the ground size makes taking wickets a tough challenge.
SA vs CAN head-to-head records in T20I
South Africa and Canada have never played against each other in the ICC T20 World Cup and bilateral matches.
SA vs CAN probable best performers
Key batter to watch out for: Quinton de Kock
Quinton de Kock could play a pivotal role with the bat in this encounter. He is a proven match-winner. Recently, he was in sublime form against the West Indies, scoring a century in the second match of their three-match T20I series. De Kock has the potential to take apart the Canadian bowling attack.
Key bowler to watch out for: Kagiso Rabada
Kagiso Rabada could be the bowler to watch out for in this contest. With 78 wickets in 72 T20I Innings, he is a key figure for South Africa. His four-over spell could prove game-changing, as his raw pace and pinpoint precision are capable of unsettling any batting lineup.
SA vs CAN match prediction ICC T20 World Cup 2026
South Africa will be the favorites for this clash due to their superior experience, squad depth, and overall quality in T20 cricket. While Canada could provide a few challenges, especially if they exploit any weaknesses, South Africa’s strength in both departments should see them comfortably across the line. Expect a strong performance from their key players, with their well-rounded squad capable of dominating both with the bat and the ball.
SA vs CAN probable XIs
South Africa:Aiden Markram (Captain), David Miller, Quinton de Kock (WK), Ryan Rickelton, Dewald Brevis, Kagiso Rabada, George Linde, Corbin Bosch, Keshav Maharaj, Marco Jansen, Lungi Ngidi
Canada:Navneet Dhaliwal, Yuvraj Samra, Dilpreet Bajwa (C), Kanwarpal Tathgur, Nicholas Kirton, Ansh Patel, Harsh Thaker, Shreyas Movva (WK), Dilon Heyliger, Jaskaran Singh, Shivam Sharma.