09 December 2025, 06:38 PM IST
South Africa opts to bowl first in the 1st T20I vs India in Cuttack
South Africa elect to bowl after winning toss in first T20I vs India | Photo: Screen grab X/BCCI
Cuttack: South Africa won the toss and chose to bowl first in the 1st T20I against India at the Barabati Stadium, with the match scheduled to take place at 7 pm IST.
The pitch in Cuttack has a reputation for offering early seam movement and variable bounce under lights, making bowling first a strategic advantage. The surface generally quickens as the evening progresses, but teams batting second have historically enjoyed better conditions due to dew, which is expected later in the match. Curators noted a firm deck with a thin grass covering, hinting at assistance for both pacers and stroke-makers.
India announced a balanced Playing XI, combining experienced T20 performers with emerging talent. The side features a pace-heavy attack suited to Barabati’s conditions, supported by two spin options for middle-overs control. South Africa, meanwhile, named a settled XI with aggressive top-order hitters and versatile all-rounders aimed at maximising powerplay scoring and death-overs stability.
The match also marks the beginning of a short but high-stakes T20I series, serving as valuable preparation for both teams ahead of next year’s global T20 calendar. With conditions expected to evolve rapidly and dew likely to influence the chase, the opening game promises a tactical contest between bat and ball.
Teams
India: Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Jitesh Sharma, Axar Patel, Varun Chakravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah.
South Africa: Quinton de Kock (wk), Aiden Markram (captain), Tristan Stubbs, Dewald Brevis, David Miller, Donnovan Ferreira, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Lutho Sipamla, Anrich Nortje, Lungi Ngidi.
(with inputs from PTI)
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