India vs South Africa T20 series preview : Another series win beckons SKY and co.

In the penultimate series before the all important T20 World Cup in February, Surya Kumar Yadav’s young Indian side would want another series in their pocket as they take on a high flying Proteas outfit in a 5 match T20 series starting December 9.

The last time these two teams met in a bilateral series, India comprehensively came out on top as they blanked the Africans in their own backyard by a 3-1 margin. Aiden Markram, who leads the side now has a job on his hands as they challenge the Indians, who have not lost a single series so far, in their own backyard.

Reeza Hendricks, Kwena Mphaka, David Miller and Tristian Stubbs are some of the names the visitors would like to welcome as they have ample experience of playing in India thanks to the IPL. Anrich Nortje too returns to the side after quite some time as he along with Bartman, Ngidi and Maharaj form the core of the bowling attack in the absence of Kagiso Rabada.

The hosts will welcome Shubman Gill back (subject to fitness) as he would desperately want to be back amongst the runs. Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah return to the squad too with the former being sidelined due to injury. Bumrah too has had a sufficient break and would be raring to go as he leads the attack with Arshdeep and Harshit Rana being the backups. 

The rest of the side isn’t too different from the last won series against Australia with Jitesh Sharma being the back up keeper. It would be interesting to see if Shubman Gill would open with Abhishek Sharma, and if he doesn’t, who would fill the all rounders slot with Axar Patel, Washington Sundar and Shivam Dube fighting for that second all rounders slot.

The series kicks off on December 9 in Cuttack before New Chandigarh gets its debut game on December 11. The action then shifts to the picturesque Dharamshala ground and then Lucknow. The Narendra Modi stadium in Ahmedabad will host the final game for team India as they look to round off a memorable 2025 in T20’s.

India T20I squad

Suryakumar Yadav (c), Shubman Gill (vc), 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 T20I squad:

Aiden Markram (captain), Ottneil Baartman, Corbin Bosch, Dewald Brevis, Quinton de Kock, Tony de Zorzi, Donovan Ferreira, Reeza Hendricks, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, George Linde, Kwena Maphaka, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Tristan Stubbs.