The first semifinal of the T20 World Cup 2026 will occur on March 4 at Eden Gardens in Kolkata, where South Africa will go up against New Zealand. Neither team has secured a T20 World Cup title thus far, making this match significant not only for a spot in the finals but for the opportunity to make history in cricket.

South Africa has been undefeated in the tournament so far, with captain Aiden Markram in outstanding form. He is just 52 runs shy of reaching 2000 T20 International runs, while he is only 32 runs away from becoming the first South African to score 300 runs in this edition of the tournament. Meanwhile, Ish Sodhi is close to becoming New Zealand's highest wicket-taker in T20 Internationals, needing just three more wickets. With history and a final berth on the line, the stage is set for a high-pressure classic at Eden Gardens.

The South African team is expected to make three significant changes, bringing back players who were rested in the previous match against Zimbabwe. Key players Kagiso Rabada, Marco Jansen, and Keshav Maharaj's return to the squad is likely to reinforce South Africa's lineup, adding depth and experience as they prepare for this crucial semifinal matchup against New Zealand.