Feb 18, 2026, 5:06 AM • 1h ago
SA bowl, make four changes
Anrich Nortje has come in for his first T20 World Cup 2026 game•ICC/Getty Images
Toss South Africa chose to field vs UAE
Weather also played a part in his decision – there was a drizzle just ten minutes before the toss, which forced parts of the ground to be covered.
Having already secured their place in the Super Eight, South Africa made four changes, pretty much emptying out their bench, mainly giving their premier bowlers a rest. They brought in Jason Smith, Kwena Maphaka and Anrich Nortje for their first games of the tournament, and also brought George Linde back. They left out David Miller, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj and Lungi Ngidi.
UAE made two changes too, for what will be their final outing at this World Cup.
On an overcast morning in Delhi, the temperates are expected to rise as the sun comes out. The pitch has offered the least amount of turn, at 1.6 degrees, among all the World Cup venues. Shaun Pollock, at the pitch report, said that the tackiness will provide sideways movement for the fast bowlers early on.
South Africa: Aiden Markram (capt), Quinton de Kock (wk), Ryan Rickelton, Dewald Brevis, Tristan Stubbs, Jason Smith, George Linde, Corbin Bosch, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Kwena Maphaka
UAE: Aryansh Sharma (wk), Muhammad Waseem (capt), Alishan Sharafu, Sohaib Khan, Harshit Kaushik, Muhammad Arfan, Dhruv Parashar, Muhammad Farooq, Haider Ali, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Jawadullah
