IND vs SA, warm-up: Ishan edges Samson, Tilak back as India ready to defend crown

The Indian team appears poised to create history. Not because of one particular standout performance, but because everything appears to be falling into place at the right time. The T20I side led by Suryakumar Yadav carries the air of a team that has moved beyond experimentation. Even in the warm-up game against South Africa in Navi Mumbai, India looked less like a well-oiled machine with nearly all of the parts working in unison.

IND vs SA, T20 World Cup 2026 Warm-ups: Highlights | Scorecard

Electing to bat in their only warm-up game, India piled on an imposing 240 for five, with the innings offering clarity across departments. The intent was unmistakable from ball one, the roles clearly defined, and the execution largely clinical. For a contest that technically carried little consequence, it felt like a statement of intent.

ISHAN KISHAN WINS OPENER DEBATE

All the speculation around Sanju Samson and his place in the XI effectively ended at the toss, when the Indian captain confirmed that Ishan Kishan would open alongside Abhishek Sharma. The decision was telling — and the response from Ishan even more so.

While Abhishek looked a touch off rhythm and eventually retired out on 24 off 17 balls, Ishan went hard from the outset. He sealed his top-order slot with a blistering 20-ball 53 as India made full use of their final opportunity to bat before the tournament proper.

Fresh from a 103 in the final T20I against New Zealand, Ishan carried that form straight into the powerplay, the pair racing to an 80-run stand. Expected to open again in the tournament opener at the Wankhede Stadium on February 10, Ishan walked off immediately after reaching his fifty, underlining India’s intent to maximise batting time rather than chase personal milestones.

The defining moment came in the fifth over, when he tore into Anrich Nortje for 29 runs, smashing four sixes and a four. One attempted evasive move against a bouncer resulted in a thick edge that sailed over fine leg for six — a moment that summed up both his form and the night’s fortune. It was a knock that carried authority and sent a clear message: the opener’s slot has a frontrunner.

TILAK VARMA, BACK LIKE HE NEVER LEFT

If Ishan provided certainty at the top, Tilak Varma delivered reassurance in the middle order. Playing only days after proving his fitness for India A following an injury lay-off, Tilak looked as though he had never been away.

Batting with freedom and confidence, he raced to 45 off just 19 balls, striking three sixes and as many fours, before being cleaned up by Marco Jansen. The dismissal mattered little. The intent, timing and ease with which Tilak found the boundary told a far more important story.

With Tilak firing, the logic around India’s top three becomes difficult to ignore. Ishan at the top, Tilak at No.3 — clarity that strengthens both balance and intent as India head into the tournament.

ARSHDEEP SINGH WORKS HIS MAGIC

India’s authority wasn’t limited to the batting. Arshdeep Singh once again underlined why his experience remains invaluable in the shortest format.

In the powerplay — a phase designed for batters to dominate — Arshdeep produced an opening over of gold dust: one run and a wicket. By leaning on subtle variations rather than raw pace, he denied South Africa any early rhythm and immediately applied pressure.

What stood out was his composure. Even when boundaries arrived later, Arshdeep stuck to his plans, using changes in pace and length to disrupt timing rather than chasing wickets. That calm understanding of situations, built through repeated high-pressure outings, makes him a dependable option at the top of the innings and a key pillar for the campaign ahead.

VARUN, INDIA’S ACE IN THE HOLE

If India’s bowlers worked in phases, Varun Chakaravarthy was the one who quietly altered the mood of the chase. South Africa were still in touch when he was introduced, but his very first ball brought a breakthrough, deceiving Ryan Rickelton into a miscued slog sweep that went straight to the keeper. It wasn’t just a wicket — it was a pause button on South Africa’s momentum.

From there, the innings never quite flowed the same way. Varun didn’t rip through the line-up, but he squeezed the middle overs, forcing batters like Jason Smith and Tristan Stubbs to settle for singles rather than swing freely. Alongside him, Axar Patel chipped in with a crucial wicket, while Abhishek Sharma impressed again with the ball, removing both Jason Smith and Marco Jansen at important junctures. Even when Stubbs and Jansen launched late, the damage was already contained.

South Africa eventually finished on 210 for seven, with a flurry of late sixes merely reducing the margin to 30 runs. By then, the contest had long been decided. India had controlled the tempo, dictated terms in every phase, and looked unfazed even when counter-attacked.

For a warm-up, this felt unusually complete. Batting slots look settled, form is peaking, and the bowling has answers across conditions and match-ups. More than the result, it was the assurance that stood out. India didn’t look like a team preparing for a tournament — they looked like one ready to defend their crown.

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