India vs South Africa 1st T20 Live Updates from Cuttack: Axar Patel Strikes to Dismiss Markram for India’s Third Wicket
The first T20 match between India and South Africa took place on December 9, 2023, at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack. This match marks the beginning of a five-game series as both teams prepare for the T20 World Cup 2026, which will be hosted in India. India entered the match with high spirits after a successful ODI series against South Africa, where they won 2-1, mitigating the disappointment from a previous Test series loss.
Key Match Events
- Arshdeep Singh dismissed Quinton de Kock for a duck.
- He also took the wicket of Tristan Stubbs, who scored 14 runs.
- Axar Patel claimed Aiden Markram’s wicket, who also scored 14 runs.
Match Context
India’s performance in Cuttack was critical for building momentum. Having lost the earlier Test series 2-0, this T20 series became crucial for Indian fans looking for redemption. South Africa, touted as a solid T20 squad, reached the finals of the last World Cup in 2024, where they faced India.
Player Updates
Shubman Gill made his return for the T20Is after missing the ODI series. He received clearance from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) and was expected to play a significant role. Sanju Samson’s role was under scrutiny, as he might bat lower in the order to accommodate Gill. Jitesh Sharma was likely to feature as a finisher.
Bowling Line-up
The competition among bowlers was noteworthy, with a direct contest between Varun Chakravarthy and Kuldeep Yadav. Jasprit Bumrah was assured to lead the pace attack, with Arshdeep Singh or Harshit Rana likely to join him.
Weather and Conditions
The weather in Cuttack was favorable for the match, though dew conditions were anticipated. Winning the toss could provide a significant advantage, with teams preferring to bowl first in humid conditions.
Squads Overview
Below are the player rosters for both teams:
| India | South Africa |
|---|---|
| Abhishek Sharma | Quinton de Kock (wk) |
| Shubman Gill | Aiden Markram (c) |
| Suryakumar Yadav (c) | Tony de Zorzi |
| Tilak Varma | Dewald Brevis |
| Hardik Pandya | Tristan Stubbs |
| Shivam Dube | David Miller |
| Axar Patel | Marco Jansen |
| Jitesh Sharma (wk) | Corbin Bosch |
| Jasprit Bumrah | Keshav Maharaj |
| Varun Chakravarthy | Anrich Nortje |
| Kuldeep Yadav | Lungi Ngidi |
| Washington Sundar | Reeza Hendricks |
| Sanju Samson | Ottneil Baartman |
| Arshdeep Singh | Donovan Ferreira |
| Harshit Rana | Kwena Maphaka |
| George Linde |
As the match unfolded, fans eagerly awaited the next actions, all while knowing that the first T20 was broadcasting live on the JioHoststar app and website, starting at 7 PM IST. The outcome would define the early narrative of this exciting T20 series between India and South Africa.
