South Africa and Canada are ready to face each other in the 9th match of the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, on Monday, February 09. This match is scheduled to begin at 7:00 PM IST. Stay tuned with our SA vs CAN prediction, team preview, pitch report, player stats and winner prediction ahead of this exciting contest.
South Africa will start their ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 campaign against Canada in Group D, carrying strong momentum from the previous edition. The Proteas were outstanding in the last World Cup, reaching their first-ever final after an unbeaten run before narrowly losing to India, a result that has only strengthened their hunger to go one step further this time.
On the other hand, Canada are still growing at the top level but have shown steady progress in recent years. They qualified for this tournament after consistent performances, including their first World Cup win in 2024 and a strong showing in the Americas qualifiers, and will look to compete bravely and make an impact against a much more experienced South African side.
Head-to-Head Record: No Head-to-head record available between both sides as South Africa and Canada will face each other for the first time in this match.
South Africa Preview
South Africa came very close to winning the last T20 World Cup, finishing runners-up after a narrow loss to India in the final. Since then, they have stayed strong in T20 cricket and have done well against top teams. Under the captaincy of Aiden Markram, South Africa have won most of their recent T20 series and look settled as a unit.
Batting remains South Africa’s biggest strength. Quinton de Kock has been one of their most reliable batters in T20Is and has scored runs consistently. Captain Aiden Markram has been in strong touch recently, scoring 86* vs West Indies and 38 vs India in his last two international outings. He also smashed 108 runs vs Paarl Royals in SA20 and crossed 1,600 T20I runs in his career and has been especially solid at number three.
David Miller is among the most experienced finishers in world cricket, with over 2,600 T20I runs, while Dewald Brevis and Donovan Ferreira add aggressive firepower in the middle and lower order.
In bowling, South Africa rely heavily on their pace attack. Kagiso Rabada is one of the most successful fast bowlers in T20Is and has taken more than 75+ wickets in the format. Anrich Nortje adds extreme pace and has produced match-winning spells in major tournaments. In spin, Keshav Maharaj has become a dependable option with over 43 T20I wickets, supported by the all-round skills of Marco Jansen and George Linde. With this balance of pace, spin, and experience, South Africa look well equipped to go deep in the tournament.
Tip
| Player | Tip | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Aiden Markram | Over 29.5 Runs | 1.85 |
Aiden Markram is in strong recent form, highlighted by scores of 86* against West Indies, a 108 in domestic T20s, and a fluent 38 vs India on Feb 4, 2026. His consistency at the top of the order makes him a reliable run-scoring pick again.
Canada Preview
Canada enter this tournament as underdogs but with growing confidence after steady improvement in T20 cricket. They qualified for the 2026 event by winning the Americas Regional Final and showed in the 2024 T20 World Cup that they can compete with stronger teams. Led by Dilpreet Bajwa, this match will be an important test of how far the team has progressed.
In batting, Nicholas Kirton is a key player, having scored 744 runs in 36 T20I matches, including important knocks in big games. Young opener Yuvraj Samra provides aggression at the top with 442 runs in 16 T20Is, while experienced batter Navneet Dhaliwal adds stability with over 1,100 T20I runs to his name.
Canada’s bowling unit is balanced and disciplined. Dilon Heyliger has been their main strike bowler with 13 wickets in T20Is, while Shivam Sharma and Kaleem Sana played major roles in qualification with 11 and 10 wickets respectively in the regional final. With added control from Saad Bin Zafar, Canada will look to stay tight and pick wickets at key moments.
Tip
| Player | Tip | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Nicholas Kirton | Over 22.5 Runs | 1.85 |
Nicholas Kirton has scored 744 runs in 36T20Is and is Canada’s key batter in big matches. His ability to anchor the innings under pressure makes him a strong pick to cross this line again.
SA vs CAN Probably Playing XI
South Africa: Quinton de Kock (WK), Ryan Rickelton, Aiden Markram (C), Dewald Brevis, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Corbin Bosch, Keshav Maharaj, Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje.
Canada: Yuvraj Samra, Dilpreet Bajwa (C), Navneet Dhaliwal, Nicholas Kirton, Shreyas Movva (WK), Harsh Thaker, Shivam Sharma, Saad Bin Zafar, Jaskaran Singh Buttar, Dilon Heyliger, Kaleem Sana.
SA vs CAN Pitch Report
The pitch at the Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad, is usually good for batting in T20 matches. The surface offers nice pace and bounce, allowing batters to play shots freely, though fast bowlers can get some help early with the new ball. As the game goes on, batting becomes easier, and dew under lights can make bowling tougher and help the chasing team. The large boundaries may test timing, but the quick outfield rewards good shots. If South Africa bat first, we can definitely see a big total here.
The weather on Monday at Narendra Modi Stadium, Ahmedabad is expected to be sunny, around 29°C, with 0% chance of rain, low 37% humidity, and light winds near 10 km/h.
Venue T20I Statistics
| Stats | Details |
|---|---|
| Total Matches | 11 |
| Matches won batting first | 7 |
| Matches won bowling first | 4 |
| Average 1st innings Score | 166 |
| Average 2nd innings Score | 143 |
| Highest total recorded | 234/4 (20 Ovs) – IND vs NZ |
| Lowest total recorded | 66/10 (12.1 Ovs) – NZ vs IND |
| Highest score chased | 166/3 (17.5 Ovs) – IND vs ENG |
| Lowest score defended | 107/7 (20 Ovs) – WIW vs INDW |
SA vs CAN Winner Prediction
South Africa come into this World Cup with a strong and experienced squad, which makes them clear favourites for this match. They have quality batters who are used to playing in Indian conditions and can score or chase big totals with confidence. Their bowling attack is equally strong and has the ability to control the game and dominate key moments.
On the hand, Canada do not have the same level of depth or big-match experience as South Africa. They have shown improvement and can fight hard, but facing a team as balanced and experienced as South Africa will be a big challenge. To cause an upset, Canada would need everything to go perfectly in their favour.
Our Prediction: South Africa
T20 World Cup 2026 Live Streaming Details
| Region | Where to Watch |
|---|---|
| India | Star Sports, Jio Hotstar |
| Sri Lanka | ThePapare, Dialog Play |
| Pakistan | Myco, Tamasha, Tapmad, ARY Zapp |
| Afghanistan | AF Sports |
| Bangladesh | TSM (via Rabbithole) |
| North America | Willow |
| Middle East & North Africa | E& (selected matches), ICC.tv |
| United Kingdom | Sky Sports, ICC.tv |
| Sub-Saharan Africa | SuperSport, ICC.tv |
| New Zealand | Sky TV NZ , ICC.tv |
| Australia, Europe, Caribbean, SE Asia, Pacific Islands, South America | ICC.tv |
Code: TOPBK
