The third and final leg of South Africa’s tour of India begins on Tuesday with the first of five T20 Internationals at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack. With the 2026 T20 World Cup just two months away, both teams are viewing this series as critical preparation for the tournament, which will be held on Indian soil.
The hosts, led by Suryakumar Yadav, have been in imperious form in the shortest format, winning all six bilateral series since their triumph in the 2024 World Cup. In contrast, South Africa has struggled for consistency, winning just five of their 14 T20Is this year and securing only one series victory since the last global event.
India welcomes back key players Shubman Gill and Hardik Pandya for this series. Gill returns after recovering from a neck spasm sustained during the test series, while Pandya is back following a quadriceps injury. The duo’s return poses selection dilemmas for the management, particularly regarding the opening combination and the wicketkeeper’s slot.
While Abhishek Sharma has cemented his place with a string of powerful performances, including 27 sixes this year, Sanju Samson may find himself displaced from the top order to accommodate Gill. Captain Suryakumar Yadav emphasized flexibility, stating, "Other than openers, everyone has to be very flexible."
South Africa, boosted by the return of captain Aiden Markram, David Miller, and pacer Anrich Nortje, will look to field their strongest XI after experimenting in recent series. The visitors will rely heavily on the explosive batting of Quinton de Kock and Dewald Brevis, who has a strike rate of 223 in the middle overs this year.
The bowling attack sees the inclusion of Corbin Bosch and potentially George Linde to counter India's lineup. However, they will be without Tony de Zorzi and Kwena Maphaka due to injuries.
The Barabati Stadium pitch, sourced from Maharashtra red soil, is expected to offer pace and bounce, potentially aiding high scores. Dew is also likely to play an important role in the evening game, complicating matters for bowlers. With temperatures expected to drop to around 15°C in the evening, conditions could favor seam movement early on.
As the countdown to the World Cup begins, India aims to fine-tune their combinations, while South Africa seeks to arrest their slide and find a settled lineup.
