Sanju Samson Excluded Again as India Takes the Bat in 1st T20I Against South Africa

In the first T20I match between India and South Africa, India has opted to bat first at Barabati Stadium in Cuttack. The match took place on December 12, 2023, as part of a five-match T20I series. South Africa won the toss and chose to bowl first.

Team Updates and Key Players

The Indian squad has welcomed back Shubman Gill and Hardik Pandya. Both players are significant assets to the team, with Gill returning from an injury sustained during a Test match against South Africa in Kolkata last month. Hardik Pandya, on the other hand, has not played since the Asia Cup earlier this year.

Despite the high stakes, Sanju Samson has been excluded from the playing XI once again. Kuldeep Yadav also remains on the bench for this match.

Playing Elevens

• India Playing XI:
  • Abhishek Sharma
  • Shubman Gill
  • Suryakumar Yadav (c)
  • Tilak Varma
  • Hardik Pandya
  • Shivam Dube
  • Jitesh Sharma (w)
  • Axar Patel
  • Jasprit Bumrah
  • Varun Chakaravarthy
  • Arshdeep Singh
• South Africa Playing XI:
  • Quinton de Kock (w)
  • Aiden Markram (c)
  • Tristan Stubbs
  • Dewald Brevis
  • David Miller
  • Donovan Ferreira
  • Marco Jansen
  • Keshav Maharaj
  • Lutho Sipamla
  • Lungi Ngidi
  • Anrich Nortje

Match Insights

India’s captain, Suryakumar Yadav, expressed contentment with the decision to bat first, citing it as an opportunity to set a challenging target. He did note, however, that the dew factor might complicate their bowling strategy later in the game.

Aiden Markram, the captain of South Africa, emphasized the importance of this match. He sees it as a vital experience for his team ahead of the upcoming World Cup.

Notable Returns

Anrich Nortje returned to the South African squad. His last match was during the final of the 2024 T20 World Cup, where South Africa faced defeat against India. This match serves as a crucial step in increasing his match fitness.

This series sets the stage for both teams as they prepare for future challenges. Both India and South Africa will look to consolidate their strategies and finalize their line-ups as the competition progresses.