India and South Africa will battle it out in the first T20I of the five-match series on Tuesday, December 9. The encounter will be contested at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack.
The Test series between the two sides made for interesting viewing, while the ODI rubber was pushed into a decider. Two of the best teams in the world, India and South Africa will promise yet another high-profile assignment that features some of the world’s best T20 players.
India’s T20I squad for the South Africa series: Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill (vice-captain), Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Varun Chakaravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Sanju Samson (wk), Washington Sundar, Hardik Pandya.
South Africa’s T20I squad for the India series: Aiden Markram (captain), Ottneil Baartman, Corbin Bosch, Dewald Brevis, Quinton de Kock (wk), Lutho Sipamla, Donovan Ferreira, Reeza Hendricks, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, George Linde, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Tristan Stubbs.
On that note, here are three things to look forward to in the first T20I between India and South Africa.
#3 Hardik Pandya is set to return from injury
Reports indicate that Hardik Pandya suffered a bit of discomfort while bowling in the nets, but there is nothing definitive confirming that he won’t feature in Cuttack. We can expect the all-rounder to return to the international playing field for the first time since the 2025 Asia Cup.
Hardik’s return will be watched closely for obvious reasons. With India fielding three spin options, his bowling form is one of the most important factors in the team’s form. Expected to be reliable in the powerplay and through the middle overs, the all-rounder will need to be at his best in the lead-up to the T20 World Cup.
#2 Can Shubman Gill nail down an opening spot?
Another player returning from injury, Shubman Gill has been adjudged fit for the first T20I against South Africa. The Indian vice-captain will return to the field after recovering from a neck issue he sustained during the Kolkata Test.
Gill’s place at the top of the order isn’t certain, and he’ll need to come up with a few statement knocks against South Africa. Batting conditions are expected to be favorable, and the opening batter will want to give Abhishek Sharma support at the other end.
India won’t want any doubts regarding their ideal opening combination ahead of the T20 World Cup, and for that, Gill needs to be at his best.
#1 Suryakumar Yadav needs a statement series under his belt
Suryakumar Yadav seemed to be striking the ball well at points of the India vs Australia T20I series, but a big knock eluded him. The Indian skipper can’t afford to have another poor rubber, just before the T20 World Cup.
Just like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma have quietened all talk around their respective places in the ODI team, Suryakumar needs to show his class. South Africa have no real bowlers who can trouble him to a great extent, and the right-hander can be backed to come good soon.
How SKY fares will be one of the biggest storylines from the South Africa T20I series.
Edited by Sai Krishna
