India are the strong favourites to win the men’s T20 World Cup 2026, but T20 is a format of fine margins. Tactics can have a much bigger say in this format than ODIs or Tests. Here are some of the tricks to watch out for in the crucial Super Eight match between India and South Africa.

Aiden Markram the bowler

The whole world is doing it, and India are expecting it. However, it doesn’t change the fact that bowling offspin to India’s top-three left-hand batters is a good idea. In the absence of the injured Donovon Ferreira, Aiden Markram, and to a lesser extent Tristan Stubbs, are the choices.

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No team has faced as much offspin as India. Only two teams have gone slower; both of them are out. Abhishek Sharma is no stranger to this by the way. He has faced and taken down offspin as part of a Sunrisers Hyderabad top order that had three left-hand batters in himself, Travis Head and Ishan Kishan. Inside powerplays in T20Is, Abhishek still strikes at 152.08 against offspin, but it is a drop from the near 220 strike against legspin and left-arm spin.

The only problem has been that he has been out to offspin three times in 40 balls inside powerplays, two of them in this tournament. Earlier he wouldn’t get so much offspin because of right-hand batters around him. Now it makes sense to bowl more of offspin.

Should India lose an early wicket, India’s counter should be to promote Suryakumar Yadav because Tilak Varma has gone at barely over a run a ball against offspin inside powerplay in T20Is.

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Will Abhishek vs Markram or Markram vs Arshdeep decide this contest?

Sanjay Bangar and Varun Aaron preview India’s Super Eight match against South Africa

Aiden Markram the batter

Markram, the batter, has been in smashing form having scored 178 runs at a strike rate of 187.36 in the tournament so far, but South Africa‘s contributions have been top-heavy. So it makes sense to bowl Arshdeep Singh and Jasprit Bumrah for four overs straight unless Quinton de Kock falls early in which case India can exploit Axar Patel’s match-up against Markram: 34 balls, 38 runs, three wickets in all T20 cricket.

Lungi Ngidi’s slower balls

Nobody has bowled slower balls with the frequency and success of Lungi Ngidi: 42% slower balls for a strike-rate of 90 and four out of his wickets in this tournament. His slower ones have been different to the ones in vogue: loopy full ones that tend to dip, and not the into-the-pitch ones in vogue. He has bowled 25 slower balls that are either in the slot or full tosses, but has conceded just 17 off them and taken three wickets. If India can watch out for them, there could be scoring opportunities in them as they can be picked from the release unlike the knuckle balls. However, on a black soil pitch, Ngidi will bank on low bounce and continue to bowl these even with the new ball.

Win toss and chase

India had been wanting to bat first in the first round, but that was to prepare themselves for bowling in the dew. Come the big matches, especially given Ahmedabad’s record, both sides should want to chase.