Predicted India playing XI for match 48 of the T20 World Cup 2026
Following the huge 76-run defeat against South Africa, the Indian cricket team is now in a do-or-die situation in the ongoing ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026. Now, the Indian team will have to win both matches to keep their semi-final hopes alive. India’s second Super 8 match will be against Zimbabwe on February 26 at the M.A. Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai. It will be a must-win game for Suryakumar Yadav & side, and the Indian team will enter with a couple of changes.
The Indian team is currently at No. 3 in the Group B points table. If India wants to keep their semifinals hope alive, they will have to win against Zimbabwe and the West Indies. India’s NRR is -3.800. They will have to win both their matches with big margins. Before the India vs. Zimbabwe match, Indian fans are also eyeing the South Africa vs. West Indies match, which will be held earlier than the IND vs. ZIM match. If South Africa secured a victory against the West Indies, then the Indian team just needs a victory in both matches to seal their semi-final ticket.
Against South Africa, apart from Shivam Dube, no Indian batter was able to make runs. Abhishek Sharma’s poor form continues. Rinku Singh has returned to his home due to a family emergency. Axar Patel is set to return to the India playing XI. While the Chennai pitch is considered a spin-friendly surface, Kuldeep Yadav might be included in the playing XI.
Apart from that, a couple of reports indicate that Sanju Samson will also feature in this match. If Sanju Samson features in this match, it will be fascinating to watch at which position he bats. Will he open the innings or be at 3? It seems that either Abhishek Sharma or Tilak Varma might be dropped in this match. Both players are currently struggling with their respective forms in the T20 World Cup 2026. It is believed that Sanju will open the innings with Kishan in this match. The two have also practised extensively together in the nets. It is an indication that Abhishek Sharma might miss this match. If Sanju plays, this will be his second T20 match. He has featured against Namibia, where he scored 22 runs in 8 balls.
Tilak Varma and Suryakumar Yadav will feature in the middle order. If Tilak misses this match, one of Ishan Kishan or Sanju Samson might bat at 3. After that, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, and Axar Patel will feature as finishers. Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy will be two spinners, while Jasprit Bumrah and Arshdeep Singh will be two pacers.
Predicted India playing XI
Sanju Samson, Ishan Kishan (wk), Tilak Varma/Abhishek Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav (C), Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah
