After a 2-0 bashing at home against South Africa, Team India has made a solid comeback in the ODI series by winning the series 2-1. Of course, a whitewash in a Test series, which also takes forever to remove the stain at home, will have at least saved the RoKo-dominant ODI series some humiliation for the Indian team. The ODI series will be remembered for the way Virat Kohli brought out his vintage 2016 self with 2 centuries and a fifty in a 3-match series.
Now that the ODIs are done, the momentum shifts to the much-awaited T20I series where India and South Africa will go head-to-head over five matches. In the last T20 series between India and South Africa, Team India defeated South Africa 3-1 in their own den. It was a series dominated by Tilak Varma, who scored back-to-back centuries. It was also the series where Sanju Samson excelled as an opener.
But as things stand today, Sanju Samson is not only removed as opener but also seems to have been out of the side due to poor performances in the middle order. Shubman Gill, who has been named vice-captain of the T20I team, has taken on the role of the second opener. But since Shubman Gill is yet to fully recover, we might see the previous one playing at 11, where Samson played as an opener, and Tilak Varma at number 3.
Key MAttach details
Tour details: South Africa Tour of India 2025
Competition details: India vs South Africa 1st T20 International
Where: Clipping
When: December 9, 2025, 7:00 PM IST
How the Cuttack pitch will behave will be difficult to predict as there have been no T20Is at this venue in the last three years. In fact, the last T20I at this venue was against South Africa, which happened to be a low-scoring match. Heinrich Klaasen scored a whopping 81 off 46 balls to chase down the 149 target in the 19th over. So, with the field information not available much, what could be the likely 11th for India vs South Africa 2025 1st T20 International? Let’s find out in this article.
India vs South Africa 2025 Official T20 squad for the Indian team
Batters
- Shubman Gill
- Suryakumar Yadav (c)
- Tilak Varma
World Cups
- Jitesh Sharma
- Sanju Samson
All-rounders
- Abhishek Sharma
- Axar Patel
- Hardik Pandya
- Shivam Dubey
- Washington Sundar
Bowlers
- Arshdeep Singh
- Harshit Rana
- jasprit bumrah
- Kuldeep Yadav
- Varun Chakraborty
The news may not be official but Shubman Gill could miss at least two T20Is as he is yet to fully recover from the injury. So with Shubman Gill out and India not opting for a backup opener, it looks like Sanju Samson will finally be asked to open the innings alongside Abhishek Sharma. This will be a welcome change as Sanju looks more competent as an opener and has done well in the past.
In the middle order, Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma can shuffle their positions at 3 and 4. While Axar Patel should continue to play the role of floater if wickets are lost early. The team can also think of sending Shivam Dube over Axar if spinners are available. Overall, expect a flexible batting order in the lineup with Hardik Pandya and Washington Sundar playing the role of the finishers in the team.
As far as the bowling line-up is concerned, Team India can continue with the same combination of 3 pace and 4 spins as we had seen on the Indian pitches. So, Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube will lead the pace department. While the spin department will be led by Varun Chakravarthy, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel and Washington Sundar. Overall, India can also opt for Arshdeep Singh as the third pacer in place of Kuldeep Yadav if the pitch provides more pace.
India vs South Africa 2025 1st T20 Best predicted matchday 11 for Indian team
- Abhishek Sharma
- Sanju Samson (wk)
- Suryakumar Yadav (c)
- Tilak Varma
- Axar Patel
- Shivam Dubey
- Hardik Pandya
- Washington Sundar
- jasprit bumrah
- Kuldeep Yadav
- Varun Chakraborty
India vs South Africa 2025 Official T20 Squad and Player List for SA
Batters
- Aiden Markram
- David Miller
- Dewald Brevis
- Reeza Hendriks
- Tristan Stubbs
- Quinton de Kock (wk)
All-rounders
- Corbin Bosch
- Donovan Ferreira
- George Linde
- Marco Jansen
Bowlers
- Anrich Nortje
- Keshav Maharaj
- Success
- Lutho Simpala
- Ottneil Baartman
Speaking of South Africa’s 11 player, Temba Bavuma will make way for Aiden Markram as captain of the side. The team should see the return of Reeza Hendricks, Tristan Stubbs and David Miller in the batting department. While in the bowling department, Anrich Nortje should be back in place of Baartman. Meanwhile, Marco Jansen and Corbin Bosch will remain the first-choice Allrounders in the squad.
India vs South Africa 2025 1st T20 Best Player 11 for SA
- Aiden Markram
- Quinton de Kock (wk)
- Reeza Hendriks
- Tristan Stubbs
- David Miller
- Dewald Brevis
- Corbin Bosch
- Marco Jansen
- Anrich Nortje
- Success
- Keshav Maharaj
So that’s about the best predicted matchday 11 for India vs South Africa 2025 1st T20 International for both teams. Overall, India are playing almost a strong team – highlighting the importance of their focus on the 2026 T20 World Cup. While South Africa also looks stronger, India looks much stronger, especially the bowling department with Kuldeep, Varun and Bumrah included.
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