The State of Play
Many of India’s leading names are missing for the white-ball leg of their tour of South Africa, although the bulk are returning for the Test series that follows. This T20I series marks the start of both sides’ build-up for the T20I World Cup next June.
The recently concluded ODI World Cup marks a natural end point for players and several were absent from the squads when they were announced.
Team News
South Africa will be without Temba Bavuma and Kagiso Rabada, who are being rested for the white-ball series with the Proteas prioritising the Test matches. Bavuma captained the one-day side which reached the semi-finals of the recent World Cup while Rabada was a key part of their pace arsenal. Gerald Coetzee and Marco Jansen are available for the first two T20Is but will miss the third. Lungi Ngidi has been ruled out of the T20 series with an ankle sprain.
Reeza Hendricks will replace Quinton De Kock and is expected to open the batting alongside Matthew Breetzke.
Suryakumar Yadav will captain India as he did for the recently concluded 4-1 T20I series win over Australia. Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli have not travelled to South Africa for the white-ball series with both men asking to be rested.
Leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi will play having risen to the top of the world rankings for his exploits against Australia.
Hello 👋 from Durban. Our venue for the 1st T20I against South Africa.#SAvIND pic.twitter.com/9AfZPCChkB
— BCCI (@BCCI) December 8, 2023
Expected line-ups
South Africa: Hendricks, Breetzke, Markram (c), Miller, Klaasen (wk), Ferreira, Coetzee, Jansen, Williams, Shamsi, Burger
India: Jaiswal, Gill, Gaikwad, Iyer, Yadav (c), R Singh, Sharma (wk), Jadeja, Bishnoi, A Singh, Siraj
When and how to watch
The match takes place in Durban with a 2pm UK time start. It is being screened in the UK on Sky Sports Cricket with the programme starting at 1.30pm.
Prediction
India come into this series on the back of a 4-1 defeat of a fatigued Australia but a trip to South Africa should present a much sterner test. Having spent so long playing in home conditions, it may take India time to acclimatise so expect the Proteas to take control early on, starting on Sunday.
