India vs South Africa: Clash at Cuttack ahead of T20I Series Opener
India vs South Africa: Clash at Cuttack ahead of T20I Series Opener
India vs South Africa 1st T20I: Team India faces South Africa in the first T20I at Barabati Stadium, Cuttack, with Hardik Pandya and Shubman Gill returning to action.
The first Twenty20 International between India and South Africa is scheduled for December 9, 2025, at Barabati Stadium in Cuttack. As India prepares for this match, they come in with strong momentum since their 2024 T20 World Cup win the Indian T20 side has remained very consistent, winning 26 matches and losing just 4. On the other hand, South Africa have struggled in recent T20s, with only 9 wins against 16 losses, and their T20-side has changed a lot due to retirements and injuries.
A big boost for India is the return of two key players: Shubman Gill recovering from a neck injury and Hardik Pandya who has recovered from a quadriceps injury. Their return brings back balance to the Indian side: Gill adds solidity at the top, while Pandya strengthens the lower order with batting depth and bowling options.
That said, India still face a few selection questions going into the match: who will keep wickets Jitesh Sharma or Sanju Samson and who will fill the No. 8 all-rounder slot, a spot that could shape the team’s balance.
For South Africa, the match is a chance to restart and rebuild. Their likely XI may feature Aiden Markram as captain (returning to lead), with batter Dewald Brevis who has impressed recently as a key player. But they are still trying to find stability after losing some senior players and coping with injuries.
The pitch and conditions in Cuttack are expected to offer something for everyone some early help for fast bowlers, some grip for spinners later on, and dew in the evening that could make bowling in the second innings tricky.
All in all, this T20I is shaping up to be a strong test for both teams. India hope to start the series on a high, backed by experience and balance, while South Africa will look to use the match as part of their rebuilding and preparation ahead of bigger tournaments.
Squads for 1st T20I
India (selected for the five-match series): Suryakumar Yadav (c), Shubman Gill (vc subject to fitness), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Sanju Samson (wk), Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Washington Sundar
South Africa (probable picks): Quinton de Kock (wk), Aiden Markram (c), Reeza Hendricks, Dewald Brevis, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Corbin Bosch / George Linde (all-round options), Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje.