South Africa, already through to the Super Eight, decided to freshen up their XI in Delhi this morning and asked the UAE to bat first. Captain Aiden Markram described the surface as a “tacky pitch”, expecting it to slow up further under lights, while opposite number Muhammad Waseem admitted he would have bowled first too.
A short, unwanted drizzle ten minutes before the toss left parts of the square under covers and almost certainly reinforced Markram’s call. The forecast looks clear now, but the outfield may still hold a bit of moisture.
Team news
Four Proteas sit this one out: David Miller, Keshav Maharaj, Marco Jansen and Lungi Ngidi are all resting. Their places go to Anrich Nortje, George Linde, Jason Smith and teenager Kwena Maphaka. For Nortje, it is a first appearance of the 2026 tournament; the pacer has bowled only 11 competitive overs since arriving in India and needs time in the middle before the knock-out stage. Smith and Maphaka make World Cup debuts.
Markram explained the thinking simply: keeping key bowlers fresh while giving the reserves meaningful overs. Kagiso Rabada therefore stays in, offering experience alongside the returning Nortje.
UAE, already eliminated, make two switches of their own. Dhruv Parashar replaces Syed Haider, and seamer Muhammad Farooq comes in for Simranjeet Singh. Waseem hopes the changes will, as he put it, “give the side more balance” and perhaps a consolation win to close their campaign.
XIs
South Africa: Markram (capt), de Kock (wk), Rickelton, Brevis, Stubbs, Smith, Linde, Bosch, Rabada, Nortje, Maphaka.
UAE: Aryansh Sharma (wk), Waseem (capt), Alishan Sharafu, Sohaib Khan, Harshit Kaushik, Muhammad Arfan, Parashar, Farooq, Haider Ali, Junaid Siddique, Muhammad Jawadullah.
Analysis snapshot
Resting four regulars looks aggressive, yet South Africa’s campaign has been smooth enough to allow it. Nortje’s pace remains a potential match-winner, but he has to find rhythm quickly; any rustiness tonight will be watched closely. Linde offers an extra spin option on a ground that often takes turn, while Smith’s medium-pace and lower-order hitting provide like-for-like cover for Jansen.
For UAE, the task is straightforward: bat with freedom, then hope their seamers exploit whatever early tackiness the captain spotted. If they can see off Rabada and Nortje without collapsing, a competitive score is possible, though South Africa’s batting reaches deep.
It is a low-stakes fixture in the broader tournament sense, yet not meaningless. Bench players on both sides have an opportunity; a standout performance here could shape selection later in the month.
