India secured a dominant 30-run victory over South Africa in their T20 World Cup warm-up match at the DY Patil Stadium in Navi Mumbai on Wednesday, February 4, 2026. This win not only boosted the team's confidence but also provided clarity regarding the top-order combination heading into their first World Cup match against the USA on February 7.

Ishan Kishan's explosive innings of 53 runs off just 20 balls, which included seven sixes and two boundaries, has solidified his position as a first-choice opener. His aggressive batting style and ability to score quickly in the powerplay overs provide India with a significant advantage. Kishan expressed excitement about opening but also conveyed he enjoyed batting at number 3 and is focused on doing his best regardless of his batting position. He attributed his success to being present in the moment, watching the ball closely, and playing the required shots, further crediting the pitch for being tremendous to bat on in the second innings.

Alongside Kishan, Abhishek Sharma also made a strong impression, contributing 24 runs off 17 balls. Their 80-run partnership at the start of the innings set the tone for India's imposing total of 241 for 5. Following Sharma and Kishan's quickfire start, Tilak Varma continued the momentum with a fluent 45 off 19 balls. Suryakumar Yadav chipped in with an explosive 30 off 16 balls, while Axar Patel (35*) and Hardik Pandya (30) added valuable runs towards the end to propel India to a massive score.

While India's batting performance was impressive, their bowling attack also contributed to the victory. Arshdeep Singh made an early breakthrough by dismissing George Linde for a duck. Despite a counter-attack from Aiden Markram (38 retired out) and Ryan Rickelton, the South African chase faltered due to regular wickets. Abhishek Sharma, making a mark with his all-round performance, took 2 crucial wickets for 32 runs in his 3 overs. India rotated their bowling attack, utilizing nine different bowlers. However, Harshit Rana left the field after bowling just one over because he was experiencing discomfort in his run-up.

South Africa's Tristan Stubbs remained not out with 45 runs off 21 balls, and Ryan Rickelton scored 44 runs off 21 balls, but their efforts weren't enough to overcome the imposing target set by India.

Ishan Kishan also showcased his skills as a wicketkeeper, taking a juggling catch to dismiss David Miller.

This warm-up match provided valuable insights for both teams, allowing them to test their combinations and fine-tune their strategies ahead of the T20 World Cup. India's strong performance has undoubtedly boosted their confidence as they prepare to launch their T20 World Cup campaign against the USA.