The Tests and ODIs are done and dusted and now it’s time for the shortest format to take centre stage as hosts India and South Africa face off in a 5-match T20I series. The first of those matches takes place on December 9th Tuesday in Cuttack. India and South Africa are World Cup finalists from the 2024 edition and are set to renew their rivalries in the latest instalment of their matches. Both teams have explosive players which makes it a fascinating series.
India will be led by Suryakumar Yadav and come into this series on the back of a 2-1 series win against Australia in Australia where two games were also rained out. India welcome back Shubman Gill and Hardik Pandya from injuries and have a settled look to the squad with no Rinku Singh being the notable absentee. South Africa will be led by Aiden Markram and they come into this series with mixed results having lost 1-2 to Pakistan, drew 1-1 in England and lost 1-2 to Australia.
The stage is set for an interesting battle as both teams will try to fine tune their skills with T20 World Cup on the horizon as well.
Overview.Â
The battle lines are drawn as the T20 series kicks off at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack where hosts India take on South Africa in the first of five T20Is on December 9th 2025 at 7 PM IST onwards. India will be led by Suryakumar Yadav and they welcome back Shubman Gill and Hardik Pandya in the ranks after their respective injuries. India looks a settled team and have gone in with the similar personnell that played in Australia with only Rinku Singh missing out altogether.
All eyes will be on Abhishek Sharma as he has been in red hot form for India and in domestic cricket as well and he is likely to open the batting with the Prince and Vice-Captain of the side Shubman Gill. Thereafter, according to both coach Gautam Gambhir and captain Suryakumar Yadav, the batting order will be flexible according to situations and anybody can come in from 3-7. The captain Surya needs runs and will hope to get back into form in this series. Tilak Varma has been in good form as he was the match-winner in the Asia Cup final against Pakistan.
There is Hardik Pandya making a comeback and then Shivam Dube who has also gone up and down the order and can bowl as well. Axar Patel after missing out on selection in ODIs is back in T20 set-up. There are two wicket-keepers in Jitesh Sharma and Sanju Samson with Jitesh maybe getting the nod ahead of Sanju to start the series. There is Washington Sundar in the ranks as he has become an all-format player under Gambhir but he may warm the bench initially.
The pure bowlers consist of Jasprit Bumrah, Harshit Rana and Arshdeep Singh in the pace department and in the spin department we have got Varun Chakaravarthy and Kuldeep Yadav. The team looks settled and in rich vein of form. Recently, India won Asia Cup 2025 and then won against Australia in a 5-match series 2-1 with 2 games abandoned. In fact, since 2024 T20 World Cup which India won, the Men in Blue has not lost a bilateral series to any team just drawing an odd series. India looking set and will start this series as slight favourites.
South Africa on the other hand, will be led by Aiden Markram as Temba Bavuma does not feature in T20Is. They have got a decent squad with Quinton de Kock back in their ranks after reversing retirement. Reeza Hendricks enters this squad and is known for his T20Is. Donovan Ferreira is also a part of this side and can be really explosive. Dewald Brevis known as Baby AB is suited for this particular format.
David Miller returns to the T20I set-up after failing to find a place in the ODIs. Tristan Stubbs who played the Tests but not the ODIs is in the side for T20Is. There is Corbin Bosch, Marco Jansen, Ottneil Baartman and George Linde as well who can hit the long ball. Linde will be a handy spin option as well. South Africa also welcome back Anrich Nortje back from injury and they have Lungi Ngidi in their ranks.
Keshav Maharaj brings wealth of experience to the side and there is Lutho Sipamla in the squad as well. The squad looks decent with only Kagiso Rabada out due to injury. But South Africa have had mixed results in this format this year winning only 5 out of 14 games. They lost the Tri-Series final earlier this year to New Zealand before going down to Australia in Australia 1-2. They drew 1-1 with England and with a second string team lost to Pakistan in Pakistan 1-2.
But they will challenge India as South Africa will be no pushovers. The stage is set for an interesting clash in Cuttack on Tuesday.
Head-To-Head.Â
India and South Africa have faced off in 31 T20Is with India winning 18 of them and South Africa 12. One match ended in a no result. In the last 10 games, it is 6-4 in India’s favour with India winning the last game on 15th November, 2024 in South Africa by 135 runs after posting a huge 283/1 with Tilak Varma and Sanju Samson slamming tons. India hold the edge in overall Head-To-Head then.
Pitch & Weather Report.Â
The pitch at Cuttack should be good for batting and a high-scoring contest is on the cards. The ball will come onto the bat with the surface having a bit of assistance for the fast bowlers as well with new ball. The batters may have to negotiate the initial few overs and get their eye in before going big. Dew is expected to play a part with the ball skidding through and that means captains winning the toss may field first as batting in second innings will be easier.
A score of 200+ can be expected batting first and maybe needed if the conditions are conducive to batting. As far as the weather goes, there is no chance of rain in the game with the maximum temperature hitting 27 degrees Celsius and the minimum temperature at 14 degrees Celsius.
Predicted/Probable Playing XIs of both sides.Â
India XI: Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Jitesh Sharma (wk), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah.
South Africa XI: Quinton de Kock (wk), Reeza Hendricks, Aiden Markram (c), Dewald Brevis, Donovan Ferreira, David Miller, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Keshav Maharaj.
Key Players to watch out for in this clash.Â
Abhishek Sharma: Abhishek Sharma has been in red hot form in T20Is and now in domestic cricket at the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy. He is scoring runs for fun and taking the bowling head on. He has been explosive at the top of the order and India will hope he continues in the same vein and takes the attack to the opposition in powerplay. He makes the job of others a lot easier when on song and he will want to put on a show as well.
Varun Chakaravarthy: Varun Chakaravarthy is an integral member of the side. He sometimes bowls in the powerplay overs and mainly in the middle phase. He is a wicket-taking bowler and his ability to consistently take wickets is what makes him standout. He was brilliant against South Africa in South Africa in 2024 and would like to continue that form in this match as well.
Aiden Markram: The captain of the side is an integral member of the side as well. Batting at 3, he controls the innings and can play according to the situation. Markram will want to do well and show what he is made of and lead from the front more importantly. He will want to put on a show in Cuttack and there is no reason why he cannot do it.
Keshav Maharaj: Keshav Maharaj is an experienced campaigner and will be a key in this series. He has done well in the past and would want to do well for his side. He will bowl in the middle overs and would look to take wickets and stem the run flow as well in order to keep his side ahead. He has very good skills and can stifle the strong Indian batting line-up. He will be key as India always goes after the bowling.
Key Stats/Records to look out for in this clash.Â
- Since 2024 T20 World Cup, India have won 26 matches and lost 4 games and this includes a seven-match winning streak during Asia Cup win in Dubai.
- South Africa have won just 5 out of 14 T20Is this year.
- In India, South Africa have won 6 matches while India won 5 with one match ending as a no result.
- Abhishek Sharma has scored 756 runs at a strike rate of 196.36 in 2025.
- Kuldeep Yadav has got 19 wickets in just 9 T20Is this year at 10.68.
- Dewald Brevis has scored 395 runs in 2025 at an average of 35.90 and a strike rate of 183.72.
- Corbin Bosch is the leading wicket-taker with 17 wickets at 16.94 for South Africa in T20Is.
- South Africa have beaten India in both the T20Is played in Cuttack.
Predicted/Possible Outcome of the Match.Â
It’s tough to predict a winner in T20I cricket as anybody can beat anybody on a given day. But looking at current form and track record of both teams, it will be fair to say that India will start this match as slight favourites. But South Africa can turn the tables on India and have a good record in Cuttack. If they are chasing, they can definitely beat India. But India starts as favourites.
Let’s see how things unfold when the match takes place on Tuesday.
Also Read: IND vs SA: Yashasvi Jaiswal’s Maiden ODI Ton Secures Series Win For India