Picture this: a team that has won four of its last five matches walks into Delhi’s biggest cricket ground. Waiting on the other side is a team that has lost four of its last five. On paper, this appears to be a mismatch. But cricket has a habit of making a fool of those who assume too much.
South Africa is flying in Group D, and the UAE is hungry to prove they belong at this level. The 34th Match at Arun Jaitley Stadium could be either a statement win or the upset of the tournament.
Match Details
Delhi hosts this Group D clash as South Africa look to cement their position at the top of the table while the UAE seek their second win of the tournament.
The Arun Jaitley Stadium holds 48,000 fans and creates a massive atmosphere for big matches.
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Match Number | 34th Match, Group D |
| Series | ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 |
| Date | Wednesday, February 18, 2026 |
| Time (Local) | 11:00 AM |
| Time (GMT) | 5:30 AM |
| Venue | Arun Jaitley Stadium, Delhi, India |
The ground has two ends, the Stadium End and the Pavilion End, and is home to the Delhi Capitals in the IPL. A morning start means conditions will be cooler and drier than an evening fixture.
Weather Report
Delhi in February offers pleasant morning conditions, which should make for a clean, uninterrupted game of cricket at this World Cup fixture.
| Parameter | Forecast Details |
|---|---|
| Temperature | 18-23°C (Pleasant and mild) |
| Humidity | 40-55% |
| Rain Chance | 5% (Mostly clear skies) |
| Wind Speed | 10-16 km/h |
| Cloud Cover | Mostly sunny |
February mornings in Delhi are among the best playing conditions in India. Low humidity means the ball will carry well and fielders will stay sharp throughout. With only a 5% rain chance, fans should get a full 40-over contest with no interruptions.
Pitch Report
The Arun Jaitley Stadium surface is known for rewarding good cricket from both departments, with the morning dew factor also playing a role early on.
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Pitch Nature | Good pace and carry. The surface offers something for both batters and bowlers throughout the game. |
| Batting Assistance | The pitch plays true, and stroke-makers can find the boundary with timing. The second innings can be tough if the pitch slows down. |
| Bowling Assistance | Pace bowlers get assistance early with the new ball. Spinners become more effective in the middle and death overs. |
| Boundary Size | Square boundaries are around 65-70 meters. Straight boundaries extend to approximately 75-80 meters. |
| Ideal First Innings Score | A total of 160-175 is competitive here. Scores above 170 put real pressure on the team chasing. |
| Toss Impact | Captains usually prefer to bat first in morning matches. Dew can help the team chase in later overs. |
The Delhi pitch rewards teams that build innings smartly in the first ten overs and then shift gears.
Both teams will study this surface carefully before the toss, as the decision at the coin flip could shape the entire match.
Squads
Both teams have named their 15-player squads for this T20 World Cup campaign, and there is a clear gap in experience between the two sides.
South Africa Squad
Aiden Markram (c), Corbin Bosch, Dewald Brevis, Quinton de Kock (wk), Marco Jansen, George Linde, Keshav Maharaj, Kwena Maphaka, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Kagiso Rabada, Ryan Rickelton (wk), Jason Smith, Tristan Stubbs
United Arab Emirates Squad
Muhammad Waseem (c), Haider Ali, Junaid Siddique, Harshit Kaushik, Mayank Kumar, Muhammad Arfan, Muhammad Farooq, Muhammad Jawadullah, Muhammad Rohid, Dhruv Parashar, Alishan Sharafu, Aryansh Sharma (wk), Simranjeet Singh, Sohaib Khan, Syed Haider (wk)
South Africa carries serious firepower with Rabada, Nortje, and Jansen leading the attack alongside a batting lineup featuring de Kock, Miller, and Brevis. UAE is a young and developing side led by Muhammad Waseem, and they will need a collective effort to compete today.
Key Players to Watch
Several players from both sides carry the ability to flip this match on its head with one good spell or a quick-fire innings.
Key Batters
| Player | Team | T20I Stats | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quinton de Kock | South Africa | 3,018 runs in 105 matches at an average of 31.76, SR 142.42 | Aggressive opener who can destroy any bowling attack in the powerplay |
| Aiden Markram | South Africa | 1,830 runs in 72 matches at an average of 31.55, SR 147.22 | A captain and top-order anchor who builds and accelerates |
| David Miller | South Africa | 2,713 runs in 136 matches at an average of 33.91, SR 140.86 | Explosive finisher with the ability to score 40 off 20 balls |
| Muhammad Waseem | UAE | 3,316 runs in 96 matches at an average of 36.84, SR 150.38 | UAE’s captain and most reliable batter at the top of the order |
| Alishan Sharafu | UAE | 1,771 runs in 68 matches at an average of 32.20, SR 132.16 | Opening batter who gives the UAE a platform in the early overs |
Key Bowlers
| Player | Team | T20I Stats | Role |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kagiso Rabada | South Africa | 80 wickets in 75 matches at an economy rate of 8.46 | SA’s strike bowler who delivers with pace and swing |
| Anrich Nortje | South Africa | 53 wickets in 45 matches at an economy rate of 7.29 | Express pace bowler who troubles batters with raw speed |
| Marco Jansen | South Africa | 29 wickets in 27 matches at an economy rate of 8.64 | Tall left-arm seamer who generates steep bounce and swing |
| Muhammad Farooq | UAE | 14 wickets in 13 matches at an economy rate of 8.02 | UAE’s most experienced bowler and key wicket-taker |
| Simranjeet Singh | UAE | 19 wickets in 17 matches at an economy rate of 6.27 | Right-arm seamer who can surprise top-order batters |
These players will shape how the match unfolds at Arun Jaitley Stadium. South Africa’s world-class attack gives them a strong edge, but the UAE’s bowlers will look to limit the damage early and keep their team in the hunt.
Recent Form
South Africa and the UAE have not faced each other in T20I cricket before, so there is no head-to-head record between them. Instead, here is a look at how both teams have been performing in their last five matches heading into this contest.
South Africa – Last 5 Matches (W L W W W)
| Match | Date | Result |
|---|---|---|
| South Africa vs New Zealand (24th Match, Group D) | 14 Feb 2026 | South Africa won by 7 wickets (17 balls remaining) |
| South Africa vs Afghanistan (13th Match, Group D) | 11 Feb 2026 | Match tied – South Africa won the 2nd Super Over |
| South Africa vs Canada (9th Match, Group D) | 09 Feb 2026 | South Africa won by 57 runs |
| South Africa vs West Indies (3rd T20I) | 31 Jan 2026 | West Indies won by 6 runs (DLS method) |
| South Africa vs West Indies (2nd T20I) | 29 Jan 2026 | South Africa won by 7 wickets (15 balls remaining) |
UAE – Last 5 Matches (L L L W L)
| Match | Date | Result |
|---|---|---|
| UAE vs Afghanistan (28th Match, Group D) | 16 Feb 2026 | Afghanistan won by 5 wickets (4 balls remaining) |
| UAE vs Canada (20th Match, Group D) | 13 Feb 2026 | UAE won by 5 wickets (2 balls remaining) |
| UAE vs New Zealand (11th Match, Group D) | 10 Feb 2026 | New Zealand won by 10 wickets (28 balls remaining) |
| UAE vs Ireland (2nd T20I) | 31 Jan 2026 | Ireland won by 30 runs |
| UAE vs Ireland (1st T20I) | 29 Jan 2026 | Ireland won by 57 runs |
South Africa is clearly in outstanding form, winning four of their last five matches, including a dramatic Super Over victory against Afghanistan. The UAE has managed just one win in their last five games and will need a complete turnaround in performance to trouble South Africa today.
Live Streaming and Broadcast Details
Fans across the world can follow this Group D clash live through their regional broadcasters and digital streaming platforms.
| Region/Country | Television | Digital/Streaming |
|---|---|---|
| India | Star Sports Network | JioHotstar |
| Pakistan | PTV, Myco | Tamasha, ARY Zapp, Tapmad |
| Sri Lanka | Dialog TV, TV Supreme (free-to-air) | ThePapare.com, Dialog Play app |
| United Kingdom & Ireland | Sky Sports Cricket, Sky Sports Main Event | NOW |
| Australia | – | Prime Video |
| South Africa | SuperSport | SuperSport digital |
| UAE & MENA | CricLife Max (via StarzPlay) | StarzPlay |
| United States | Willow TV | Willow DTC, CricBuzz DTC, Willow YouTube |
Suggested Reads:
Indian viewers can catch all the action on Star Sports Network across multiple language feeds and stream live on JioHotstar with special features like 360 view and multi-cam.
South African fans can watch on SuperSport. UAE supporters can tune in on CricLife Max via StarzPlay, while UK viewers can access coverage on Sky Sports Cricket and NOW.
