After clinching the three-match ODI series 2-2 against South Africa, Team India will look to keep their winning momentum in the T20I series when they face the Proteas in the first of the five-match T20 International series at Barabati Stadium in Cuttack. The upcoming T20I series will be crucial for India, as this will be the second-last assignment for Team India before the T20I World Cup at home next year.
India's T20I vice-captain Shubman Gill and star all-rounder Hardik Pandya, who were on the road to recovery, are fit to play in the T20I series against South Africa. On the other camp, Aiden Markram will captain South Africa, which also sees the return of their T20I specialists David Miller and Reeza Hendricks.
Barabati Stadium pitch report
The Barabati Stadium pitch has been relaid with a red-soil base, giving it characteristics similar to the Wankhede surface, plenty of bounce, good carry and usually lots of runs in T20Is. It should be a batting-friendly wicket. However, India have lost both of their previous T20Is against South Africa at this ground, so they’ll be eager to change that record this time.
India vs South Africa T20I head-to-head
India and South Africa have played 31 T20Is against each other, where the Men in Blue hold the edge, winning 18 matches. South Africa came victorious 12 times. One clash between India and South Africa ended without a result.
Total Matches: 31
India: 18
South Africa: 12
No Result: 1
India vs South Africa, 1st T20I probable playing XIs
India: Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill (vc), Suryakumar Yadav (c), Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson (wk), Hardik Pandya, Harshit Rana/Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakravarthy.
South Africa: Aiden Markram, Quinton de Kock /Donovan Ferreira (wk), Reeza Hendricks, Tristan Stubbs, David Miller, Dewald Brevis, Corbin Bosch, Marco Jansen, Anrich Nortje, Lungi Ngidi, Keshav Maharaj.