South Africa vs United Arab Emirates, 34th Match, Group D

As the ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2026 progresses, the 34th match of Group D promises an intriguing contest between South Africa and the United Arab Emirates at the Arun Jaitley Stadium. South Africa enters this fixture with a strong recent form, leveraging a well-balanced squad with a mix of experienced campaigners and young talents. Their key players such as Quinton de Kock and Kagiso Rabada have consistently delivered match-winning performances across recent T20 outings, providing South Africa with both stability and firepower. On the other hand, the United Arab Emirates, while considered underdogs, have showcased notable resilience and opportunistic cricket in their recent games. Led by captain Rohan Mustafa, UAE’s middle order and their pace attack have occasionally troubled stronger sides, making them a team not to be underestimated. Head-to-head encounters between these two sides remain limited given UAE's emerging status in global cricket, but South Africa has maintained dominance in their previous meetings. South Africa’s strategy will likely focus on capitalizing on early breakthroughs with their quality bowling attack and setting or chasing a challenging total leveraging their depth in batting. UAE, conversely, will aim to disrupt momentum early on, make the most of powerplay overs, and look for tactical bowling changes to exploit any lapses in South Africa’s lineup. Considering the strengths, form, and experience gap, South Africa naturally holds an advantage; however, with cricket’s unpredictable nature and UAE’s scrappy performances, the contest could hold some exciting moments.

AI suggested match winner

South Africa: 75%, United Arab Emirates: 25%

If South Africa bats first on the Arun Jaitley Stadium pitch, they are likely to score in the range of 165-180 runs. Their powerful top-order and the ability to accelerate in the death overs can exploit the true bounce and pace the wicket offers. Conversely, if UAE bats first, a competitive total will be around 140-155 runs. They have capable hitters but lack the depth of South Africa's batting, which makes it challenging to post a high total on this surface. Both teams need to be mindful of the steady nature of the pitch, which supports strokeplay but offers some assistance for disciplined bowlers.

The Arun Jaitley Stadium pitch is traditionally balanced, offering consistent bounce and assistance to both batsmen and bowlers. The average first-innings score in T20s at this venue hovers around 160 runs, with teams chasing having a marginally better record due to predictable outfield conditions. Weather on February 18th is expected to be clear with temperatures ranging between 20 to 28 degrees Celsius, ideal for play without interruptions. For South Africa, Kagiso Rabada boasts the best bowling figures with 4/15 in a recent match here, while Quinton de Kock holds the highest score of 85*. On the UAE side, Rashid Khan (in domestic T20 leagues and included here as UAE’s key spinner) has impressed as a disciplined spinner on this ground, alongside Rohan Mustafa with a notable 65-run innings making him the best batsman in recent matches at this venue. These performances highlight individuals capable of turning the match on its head amid familiar conditions.

Matches Played	South Africa Wins	UAE Wins
4	4	0

Team Recent Performance

Team	Match 1	Match 2	Match 3	Match 4	Match 5
South Africa	W	W	L	W	W
United Arab Emirates	L	L	W	L	W

Quinton de Kock: South Africa’s dependable opener has accumulated over 300 runs in recent T20 internationals, showcasing supreme consistency and the ability to power through challenging phases.

Kagiso Rabada: A strike bowler with pace and precision, Rabada has taken 12 wickets in his last 5 matches, often breaking crucial partnerships early.

Temba Bavuma: Known for his calm temperament, Bavuma has provided solidity to the middle order with several impactful innings anchoring South Africa’s chase.

Rohan Mustafa: The UAE captain is their backbone, contributing with both bat and ball, recently scoring two half-centuries and picking timely wickets.

Vriitya Aravind: The young UAE batsman is quickly emerging as a match-winner, delivering aggressive starts and valuable middle overs runs.

Rashid Khan: Although primarily known in other leagues, Rashid’s skillful spin and economy rate hold potential to strangle South African batsmen on this wicket.