IND vs SA: Tony de Zorzi and Kwena Maphaka ruled the T20I series vs India; South Africa announces updated squad

South Africa‘s plans for the upcoming five-match T20I series against India have been seriously disrupted by the exclusion of two key players, Tony DeZorzi And You are the catsdue to injury problems confirmed by Cricket South Africa (CSA) on Saturday. This comes along with the withdrawal of the fast bowler Nandre Burger from the last ODI of the previous series. The replacements have been named for just one of the T20I spots, leaving a notable gap in the squad.

South African top batsman Tony de Zorzi has been ruled out of the T20I series against India

Top batsman De Zorzi and fast bowler Burger were ruled out of the crucial third ODI against India for the first time due to hamstring injuries sustained during the second match.

• Tony De Zorzi: Experienced right hamstring pain while batting during the chase in the second ODI and had to retire injured. Scans confirmed the injury, ruling him out of the entire five-match T20I series, and he will return home. No replacement has been appointed for him in the T20I squad, leaving a top-class void.
• Nandre Burger: Experienced discomfort in his right hamstring while bowling in the second ODI. He has been ruled out of the ODI series decider.

The setback in the T20I series is particularly important for De Zorzi as he was expected to play a crucial role. His absence, compounded by the existing unavailability of frontline pacers such as Kagiso Rabadaputs extra pressure on the remaining South African team members.

Also READ: IND vs SA, 3rd ODI: Here’s why Washington Sundar won’t play today’s match in Visakhapatnam

Replacement of crocodile maphaka for the ind vs. t20i series

In a second blow to the bowling attack, young fast bowler Maphaka was also withdrawn from the T20I squad due to a persistent hamstring problem.

• To you Mapaka: The former U19 World Cup star, who has IPL experience, did not make the expected progress during the final stages of his rehabilitation from a left hamstring injury and will not be fit for the start of the T20I series.
• Replacement: Right-arm medium-fast bowler Nothing Sipamla has been added to the team in place of Maphaka. Sipamla, who plays domestically for DP World Lions, has previous international experience, having played 11 T20Is for South Africa (taking 6 wickets at an average of 61.33).

The inclusion of Sipamla, who last played a T20I for South Africa in November 2024, is a necessary measure to ensure the team has sufficient reserves of pace as they navigate this injury crisis against a formidable Indian side. The five-match series will begin on December 9 in Cuttack.

South Africa’s updated T20I squad for the series against India

Aiden Markram (c), Ottneil Baartman, Corbin Bosch.

Also READ: This is why BCCI decided to switch venues for the SMAT 2025 knockouts