India Women and South Africa Women will meet in a crucial Group stage clash of the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 at Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester, on Sunday, June 21. With India unbeaten after two matches and South Africa fighting to stay firmly in the semi-final race, this promises to be one of the biggest contests of the tournament so far.
India Women have started their campaign brilliantly. They defeated Pakistan Women by 64 runs before registering a dominant 95-run victory over the Netherlands. Smriti Mandhana has been in outstanding form, while the bowling unit led by Shree Charani and Deepti Sharma has looked equally impressive.
South Africa Women bounced back strongly after losing to Australia in their opening game. They managed to overcome Pakistan Women in a close contest and now need another victory to strengthen their chances of reaching the knockout stage. Laura Wolvaardt’s side knows that a defeat here would put them under serious pressure.
Match Details
| Match | South Africa Women vs India Women, Match 18 |
|---|---|
| Tournament | ICC Women’s T20 World Cup 2026 |
| Date | June 21, 2026 |
| Time | 7:00 PM IST |
| Venue | Emirates Old Trafford, Manchester |
| Live Streaming | JioHotstar |
| TV Broadcast | Star Sports Network |
SA W vs IND W Team Form
India have won their first two matches, while South Africa have one victory and one defeat.
| Team | Last 5 Matches |
|---|---|
| South Africa Women | W, L, W, L, W |
| India Women | W, W, L, L, W |
SA W vs IND W Head-to-Head Record
The rivalry between these two teams has been closely contested over the years.
| Matches Played | South Africa Won | India Won | No Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| 24 | 10 | 11 | 3 |
Weather Report
The weather in Manchester is expected to be pleasant for cricket, with only a slight possibility of rain.
| Conditions | Details |
|---|---|
| Temperature | 12.5°C |
| Weather | Partly Sunny |
| Humidity | 89% |
| Rain Chances | 5% |
Pitch Report
The surface at Emirates Old Trafford generally offers good bounce and carry. Fast bowlers are likely to get some movement with the new ball, while spinners have also played an important role in recent matches. Batters who spend time in the middle can score freely once settled.
With large boundaries and assistance for both seamers and spinners, teams batting first could have a slight advantage.
Venue Stats
| Stats | Record |
|---|---|
| Matches Played | 16 |
| Win Batting First | 38% |
| Win Chasing | 38% |
| Average First Innings Score | 165 |
| Average Second Innings Score | 119 |
| Highest Total | 304/2 |
| Highest Successful Chase | 199/5 |
| Lowest Defended Total | 190/4 |
Pace vs Spin Record
| Bowling Type | Wickets |
|---|---|
| Pace | 64 |
| Spin | 74 |
Spinners have enjoyed slightly better success at Old Trafford.
Probable Playing XI
| South Africa Women | India Women |
|---|---|
| Laura Wolvaardt (C) | Smriti Mandhana |
| Sune Luus | Shafali Verma |
| Annerie Dercksen | Jemimah Rodrigues |
| Nadine de Klerk | Harmanpreet Kaur (C) |
| Marizanne Kapp | Richa Ghosh (WK) |
| Chloe Tryon | Yastika Bhatia |
| Kayla Reyneke | Deepti Sharma |
| Sinalo Jafta (WK) | Radha Yadav |
| Shabnim Ismail | Renuka Singh Thakur |
| Ayabonga Khaka | Kranti Gaud |
| Nonkululeko Mlaba | N Shree Charani |
Players to Watch
Smriti Mandhana
The Indian opener has started the tournament in superb fashion. She scored 68 runs against Pakistan and followed it with 74 against the Netherlands. Her form at the top gives India a huge advantage.
N Shree Charani
The left-arm spinner has been one of the standout bowlers of the World Cup. She already has seven wickets and has troubled batters with her control and variations.
Laura Wolvaardt
South Africa’s captain remains the key batter for her side. She will need to anchor the innings and handle India’s spin challenge effectively.
Marizanne Kapp
Kapp’s all-round ability makes her one of South Africa’s biggest match-winners. Her experience could prove valuable in such an important encounter.
Probable Best Batter
Smriti Mandhana
Mandhana has looked in complete control so far. Her aggressive approach and consistency make her the biggest batting threat in this contest.
Probable Best Bowler
N Shree Charani
The young spinner is currently among the leading wicket-takers in the tournament and could once again make the difference with her left-arm spin.
Match Prediction
Both teams have quality players, but India enter this contest with better momentum and greater confidence. Their batting lineup has clicked nicely, and the bowling attack has consistently delivered under pressure.
South Africa have enough experience to challenge India, but they need a stronger performance from their middle order. If India bat first and post a score around 160 or above, they will be difficult to stop.
Winning Probability
| Team | Winning Chance |
|---|---|
| South Africa Women | 45% |
| India Women | 55% |
Predicted Scores
| Team Batting First | Predicted Score |
|---|---|
| South Africa Women | 150-170 |
| India Women | 155-180 |
Fantasy Cricket Top Picks
| Category | Players |
|---|---|
| Captain | Smriti Mandhana |
| Vice-Captain | Marizanne Kapp |
| Top Batter | Smriti Mandhana |
| Top Bowler | N Shree Charani |
| Differential Pick | Laura Wolvaardt |
Final Verdict
India Women have looked one of the strongest teams in the tournament and come into this clash with momentum on their side. South Africa Women are capable of causing problems, but they will need their experienced players to deliver in pressure situations.
With Smriti Mandhana in excellent form and the spin attack performing brilliantly, India Women appear slightly ahead in this important Group stage battle.
Prediction: India Women to beat South Africa Women.
