Big picture: Newest rivalry in town

Some are calling this the final before the final. India were the clear favourites anyway, and South Africa have emerged unbeaten from the toughest group of the draw. Their easy win against New Zealand has sent warning signs.

A budding rivalry that began with the last T20 World Cup final, which South Africa lost despite bossing it for 35 overs, continued as they had their own back with a Test whitewash of India in India.

Throw in high stakes. This is no longer a match in which only India stand to lose something although they will not want to be the XI that breaks India's winning streak of 12 at T20 World Cups. South Africa stand to lose a lot as well.

You lose this match, and the remaining two become must-wins but not a guarantee to make the semi-finals. It is a blockbuster start to the Group 1 Super Eight round. South Africa have been used to the Ahmedabad conditions having played three of their four matches there. India don't need any more familiarity with Ahmedabad as every important match of any series or tournament invariably ends up there.

The last such game was the last T20I in the series against South Africa where India overcame the toss and buried South Africa by piling 231 runs. At that time, South Africa didn't have any idea what their best XI looked like. Now they will hope to put up a much better fight against the all-conquering Indian side.

Form guide

India WWWWWL (last five completed T20Is, most recent first)
South Africa WWWWL

In the spotlight: Ishan Kishan and Aiden Markram

The two openers have been setting the tournament alight. Not long ago neither of them was opening. Ishan Kishan is a bolter thanks to his performance in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. In December when South Africa last played India in Ahmedabad, Aiden Markram was batting at No. 5. Now they are the leading openers of the tournament having aggregated in 170s at nearly two a ball. A lot of time will be spent on them in the respective strategy meetings.

Team news: Axar to return; Nortje or Rabada?

Arshdeep Singh expectedly returned for the last match, but India rested Axar Patel to give Washington Sundar a game. Axar should come back into the XI.

India (probable): 1 Abhishek Sharma, 2 Ishan Kishan (wk), 3 Tilak Varma, 4 Suryakumar Yadav (capt.), 5 Hardik Pandya, 6 Rinku Singh, 7 Shivam Dube, 8 Axar Patel, 9 Arshdeep Singh, 10 Jasprit Bumrah, 11 Varun Chakravarthy.

play10:15

South Africa rested Lungi Ngidi in their last game, giving Kagiso Rabada time to attain full rhythm while also testing out Anrich Nortje. Ngidi, still their leading wicket-taker, should come back at the expense of one of the big quicks. This being a night game, Corbin Bosch is likelier to get the nod ahead of George Linde.

South Africa (probable): 1 Aiden Markram (capt.), 2 Quinton de Kock (wk), 3 Ryan Rickelton, 4 Dewald Brevis, 5 Tristan Stubbs, 6 David Miller, 7 Marco Jansen, 8 Corbin Bosch, 9 Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada/Anrich Nortje, 11 Lungi Ngidi.

Pitch and conditions

The night games in Ahmedabad have been high-scoring and chase-friendly. India played Netherlands on black soil, which explained a bit of slowness in the surface. This match will be played on a black-soil surface so temper your expectations of runs. Still sides will want to chase upon winning the toss. Highs of 34 degree celsius are warm for February, which should concern us overall, but there is no rain threat to the match.

Stats and trivia

• India hold a 5-2 head-to-head record against South Africa in T20 World Cups.

• Nobody has scored more ducks for India in a calendar year than Abhishek Sharma's five. Three of them have come in this World Cup.