The West Indies tour of South Africa 2026 kicks off with a three-match T20I series, starting on Tuesday, January 27, at Boland Park, Paarl. The two-time T20 World Cup champions, West Indies, arrive in South Africa after a recent T20I series loss against Afghanistan in the UAE.
Match Details: SA vs WI
| Details | Information |
|---|---|
| Series | West Indies Tour of South Africa 2026 |
| Match | South Africa vs West Indies, 1st T20I |
| Date | Tuesday, 27 January 2026 |
| Time | 9:30 PM IST (6:00 PM Local) |
| Toss Time | 9:00 PM IST |
| Venue | Boland Park |
| City | Paarl |
| Live Streaming | FanCode, JioHotstar |
Match Preview
The series opener at Boland Park promises to be a competitive encounter. West Indies have a strong batting lineup, with the likes of Shimron Hetmyer, Rovman Powell, and Brandon King expected to play aggressive roles. Their spin attack, led by Akeal Hosein and Gudakesh Motie, could pose challenges for the South African middle order.
South Africa will rely on their home advantage and a balanced lineup of hard-hitting batters and fast bowlers. Players like Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, and Lungi Ngidi will look to exploit the extra bounce and pace at Boland Park, while the spinners Keshav Maharaj and George Linde can control the middle overs.
The key to the match will be how each team adapts to the conditions. Boland Park generally favors batters who can pace their innings, but early movement for pacers can make the game evenly balanced.
Head-to-Head Record: SA vs WI (T20Is)
| Team | Matches Won |
|---|---|
| West Indies | 14 |
| South Africa | 12 |
| No Result | 0 |
The two sides have shared competitive encounters in the past, with West Indies holding a slight edge overall.
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Weather & Pitch Report: Boland Park, Paarl
- Weather Report: The weather is expected to be sunny and clear, with temperatures around 26°C and humidity between 45-50%.
- Pitch Report: The pitch in Paarl is considered ideal for T20 cricket, offering good bounce and pace for fast bowlers, along with enough grip for spinners. Batters who can anchor their innings are likely to play big shots. Historically, teams batting first have posted average first-innings scores of 160-170, making it a balanced venue for both bat and ball.
Probable Playing 11
South Africa (SA) Playing 11
1. Aiden Markram (c), 2. Ryan Rickelton, 3. Rubin Hermann, 4. Dewald Brevis, 5. Jason Smith, 6. George Linde, 7. Corbin Bosch, 8. Kagiso Rabada, 9. Keshav Maharaj, 10. Anrich Nortje, 11. Lungi Ngidi
West Indies (WI) Playing 11
1. Brandon King, 2. Shai Hope (c), 3. Johnson Charles, 4. Shimron Hetmyer, 5. Sherfane Rutherford, 6. Rovman Powell, 7. Romario Shepherd, 8. Jason Holder, 9. Matthew Forde, 10. Akeal Hosein, 11. Gudakesh Motie
Who Will Win Today’s Match? (AI Prediction)
This first T20I is expected to be closely contested. South Africa have home advantage and a strong pace attack that can exploit Boland Park conditions. West Indies, however, have a proven T20 record and a dangerous batting lineup capable of turning the match in moments.
Considering team balance, current form, and local conditions, South Africa are slightly favoured to win the opener, but a late flourish from the West Indies batting could make the result unpredictable.
AI Match Prediction: South Africa are slight favourites to win the 1st T20I, but expect a thrilling contest between two competitive sides.
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