In a repeat of the T20 World Cup 2024 finale, India IND and South Africa SA will be contesting in the first T20I of the series at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack on Tuesday, December 9. This is also the last leg of the all-format tour, where the Proteas won the Tests, whereas, the One-Day Internationals went to the Men in Blue.
Speaking of India, the Suryakumar Yadav-led side has been in some tremendous form of late, having won the Asia Cup 2025 followed by a series win against the mighty Australian side Down Under. The countdown for the 2026 T20 World Cup is also well and truly on, as the side will be defending their crown at the upcoming mega event. They will be confident of getting a win under their belt at Cuttack.
South Africa, on the contrary, have had a very horrendous campaign in the shortest format of the game. This will be their first T20I assignment after the 1-2 drubbing against Pakistan. Before the Pakistan tour, the Proteas had also lost to Namibia - an associate nation, in the one-off encounter. Further back, they managed to draw against England, which now puts them under the pump to find some winning momentum.
