The Indian team seems all set to create history. Not because of one standout performance, but because everything seems to fall into place at the right time. The Suryakumar Yadav-led T20I side carries the air of a team that has moved beyond experimentation. Even in the warm-up match against South Africa in Navi Mumbai, India looked less like a well-oiled machine with almost all parts working in unison.
IND vs SA, T20 World Cup 2026 Warm-up: Highlighting | Scorecard
India elected to bat in their only warm-up game and piled up a formidable 240 for five, with the innings offering clarity across the departments. The intent was unmistakable from the first ball, the roles clearly defined and the execution largely clinical. For a contest that was technically of little consequence, it felt like a statement of intent.
ISHAN KISHAN WINS THE FINAL DEBATE
All the speculation surrounding Sanju Samson and his place in the playing eleven effectively ended with the draw as the Indian skipper confirmed that Ishan Kishan will open alongside Abhishek Sharma. The decision was telling – and the response from Ishan even more so.
While Abhishek looked to be in touch and eventually departed for 24 off 17 balls, Ishan went hard from the start. He sealed his top-order slot with a brilliant 20-ball 53 as India made the most of their last opportunity to bat before the tournament itself.
Ishan, fresh from 103 in the final T20I against New Zealand, carried that form straight into the powerplay and the pair raced for 80 runs. Expected to open again when the tournament opens at the Wankhede Stadium on February 10, Ishan departed immediately after reaching his fifty, underscoring India’s intent to maximize batting time rather than chase personal milestones.
The decisive moment came in the fifth over when he smashed Anrich Nortje for 29 runs and smashed four sixes and a four. One attempted evasive move against the bouncer resulted in a thick edge sailing over fine leg for a six – a moment that summed up both his form and the fortunes of the night. It was a knock that carried authority and sent a clear message: the opener slot has a front-runner.
TILAK VARMA, BACK LIKE HE NEVER LEFT
If Ishan provided assurance at the top, Tilak Varma provided assurance in the middle order. Tilak, playing just days after proving his fitness for India AND after an injury layoff, looked like he was never gone.
Batting with freedom and confidence, he raced to 45 from just 19 balls, hitting three sixes and as many fours before being cleaned up by Marco Jansen. Dismissal mattered little. The intent, timing and ease with which Tilak found the boundary told a far more important story.
With Tilak firing, it is hard to ignore the logic surrounding India’s top three. Ishan at the top, Tilak at No.3 — a clarity that reinforces balance and purpose as India head into the tournament.
ARSHDEEP SINGH WORKS HIS MAGIC
India’s authority was not limited to batting. Arshdeep Singh reiterated why his experience remains invaluable in the shortest format.
In the power play – a phase designed to dominate the batting – Arshdeep created an opening through the gold dust: one run and a wicket. Relying on subtle variations rather than raw pace, he denied South Africa any early rhythm and immediately applied pressure.
What stood out was his composure. Even though the boundaries arrived later, Arshdeep stuck to his plans and used changes in pace and length to disrupt the timing rather than chasing wickets. This calm understanding of situations, built up through repeated high-pressure outings, makes him a reliable top-of-the-innings option and a key pillar for the upcoming campaign.
VARUN, INDIA’S ACE IN THE HOLE
If the Indian bowlers worked in phases, it was Varun Chakaravarthy who quietly changed the mood of the chase. South Africa were still in touch when he was introduced but his very first ball produced the breakthrough as he fooled Ryan Rickelton who went straight to the keeper. It wasn’t just a wicket – it was the pause button on South Africa’s momentum.
From there, the shift was never quite the same. Varun didn’t crack the lineup but squeezed the middle overs, forcing batsmen like Jason Smith and Tristan Stubbs to settle for singles rather than swing freely. Alongside him, Axar Patel took a crucial wicket while Abhishek Sharma again impressed with the ball, removing both Jason Smith and Marc Jansen at crucial points. Although Stubbs and Jansen started late, the damage was already under control.
South Africa eventually finished on 210 for seven, with a flurry of late sixes only reducing the margin to 30 runs. By then, the competition had already been decided long ago. India controlled the tempo, dictated terms at every stage and looked unfazed even on the counter-attack.
It felt unusually complete for a warm-up. The batting machines look settled, the form is peaking and the bowling has answers for different conditions and matches. Confidence stood out more than the result. India didn’t look like a team preparing for the tournament – they looked like a team ready to defend their crown.
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Issued by:
Amar Panicker
Published on:
February 4, 2026
