Cuttack T20I Showdown: South Africa Wins the Toss Opts to Field Against India
Cuttack’s Barabati Stadium is the venue for the opening match of the T20I series between India and South Africa. The match is set against the backdrop of India’s recent success in the ODI series, where they won 2-1 after South Africa won the Test series 2-0.
Cuttack T20I Showdown: South Africa Wins the Toss and Opts to Field Against India
South African captain Aiden Markram won the toss and chose to field first. This decision sets the stage for a competitive match as both teams aim to secure an advantage in this five-match T20I series.
India’s Team Selection
Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav revealed that certain key players will not participate in this match. Sanju Samson, Kuldeep Yadav, Washington Sundar, and Harshit Rana are all sidelined.
Jitesh Sharma will assume the role of finisher for India. The playing XI includes:
- Abhishek Sharma
- Shubman Gill
- Suryakumar Yadav (captain)
- Tilak Varma
- Hardik Pandya
- Shivam Dube
- Jitesh Sharma (wicket-keeper)
- Axar Patel
- Jasprit Bumrah
- Varun Chakaravarthy
- Arshdeep Singh
South Africa’s Line-up
The South African team selected for this match features star players including:
- Quinton de Kock (wicket-keeper)
- Aiden Markram (captain)
- Tristan Stubbs
- Dewald Brevis
- David Miller
- Donovan Ferreira
- Marco Jansen
- Keshav Maharaj
- Lutho Sipamla
- Lungi Ngidi
- Anrich Nortje
Pitch Report and Broadcast Details
The pitch at Barabati Stadium is known for favoring bowlers, particularly spinners during the middle overs. Fast bowlers may also find early swing advantageous. Historically, India has struggled at this venue, losing two T20I matches to South Africa.
Fans can catch the live action on the Star Sports Network or stream it on the JioHotstar app and website.
Head-to-Head Record
The T20I rivalry between India and South Africa has seen them face off 31 times. India has won 18 matches, while South Africa has claimed 12 victories, with one match not resulting in a decision. On Indian soil, both teams have met 12 times, with India winning five and South Africa taking six.
South Africa’s only T20I series win in India occurred in 2015, when they triumphed 2-0.
Key Performers
- Abhishek Sharma: 756 runs at a strike rate of 196.36 in T20Is for India this year.
- Kuldeep Yadav: 19 wickets in just nine T20Is this year.
- Dewald Brevis: 395 T20I runs at an average of 35.90 with a strike rate of 183.72.
- Corbin Bosch: South Africa’s leading wicket-taker with 17 wickets in 2025.
