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India avenged their Test loss by winning the ODI series 2-1. South Africa defeated India 2-0 in the Tests, but India avenged their defeat by winning the three-match ODI series 2-1 on December 6. With this, the Indian team has won 10 out of the last 11 ODI series at home.
The T20I series is now underway during this long tour of South Africa. India and South Africa will face each other in a five-match T20 series starting on Monday, December 9. This series is also being seen as a preparation for the 2026 T20 World Cup. Both teams will be eager to win this series.
In T20Is, India are not only the reigning world champions but also the No. 1 ranked team. Over the last year and a half, India have been remarkably consistent in the format, driven by explosive batting and a potent spin attack.
Here is everything you need to know before the India vs South Africa 1st T20I match in the South Africa tour of India 2025.
Match Details
- Match: India vs South Africa
- Tournament: South Africa tour of India 2025, 1st T20I
- Date: 9 December 2025
- Time: 7:00 PM IST
- Venue: Barabati Stadium, Cuttack
Streaming Details
The India vs South Africa first T20I will be streamed live on the JioHotstar app and website and telecast on the Star Sports network.
India vs South Africa: Head-to-head Stats in T20I
Overall in T20Is, the two teams have met each other 31 times. Team India has won 18 matches with South Africa pocketing 12 wins. There was one no result.
On Indian soil, the two sides have faced each other 12 times. India have won 5 matches with South Africa claiming six wins. India and South Africa have met twice in Cuttack in T20Is. The visiting team won both affairs.
| Matches Played | 31 |
| India Won | 18 |
| South Africa Won | 12 |
| No Result / Tied | 1 |
Pitch Report: Barabati Stadium
The pitch at Barabati Stadium is helpful for batsmen and spin bowlers. Initially, the pitch offers good bounce and pace, due to which the ball comes nicely onto the bat and batsmen score runs quickly. Accurate line and length are necessary to take wickets.
However, because this pitch is made of black soil, it tends to slow down, making it difficult to play big shots and benefiting spin bowlers. The average score on this wicket is around 160 to 180. The boundary length is between 65-70 meters, which is challenging for big hitters.
Weather Report
The temperature in Cuttack on Tuesday is expected to be between 12 to 15 degrees Celsius. As the match will be played in the evening, the weather will be very cold, which might make it difficult for the players to warm up. The weather will be clear, with only a 10% chance of rain. There is a possibility of 48% humidity here on Tomorrow. The wind will blow at a speed of 8 kilometers per hour.
Possible Lineups
India: Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill (vc), Suryakumar Yadav (c), Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson (wk), Hardik Pandya, Harshit Rana/Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakravarthy.
South Africa: Aiden Markram (c), Quinton de Kock /Donovan Ferreira (wk), Reeza Hendricks, Tristan Stubbs, David Miller, Dewald Brevis, Corbin Bosch, Marco Jansen, Anrich Nortje, Lungi Ngidi, Keshav Maharaj.
Also Read: Most international centuries by Indians
India vs South Africa 1st T20I Match Prediction
Both teams are among the top T20I sides in the world and have their best players available. However, Kagiso Rabada will be a big miss for South Africa with the ball. Some of their players are playing consistently since the Test series, so there will be fatigue as well. But this is a good South African side.
The conditions are expected to be flat, and we see a high-scoring game here. As seen in ODIs, the toss will be crucial because of the dew in the evening. But India have been one level ahead of the other teams in this format, and they will be favorites heading into the first game on Tuesday.