The 1st T20I between India vs South Africa is being played at the Barabati Stadium on Tuesday, December 9, 2025. The high-voltage match unveiled a red-soil wicket for the first time in its history and promises fireworks at the venue.
Score: SA win toss, India will bat first.
India: Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav(c), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Jitesh Sharma(w), Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy and Arshdeep Singh.
Pitch and Toss Dynamics
The red-soil surface, traditionally known for pace and bounce, has added intrigue to the clash.
India skipper Suryakumar Yadav remarked, “I haven’t seen the pitch yet, but red soil can be quick. If it’s fast, that’s good.”. Captains may prefer to bowl first, though the new surface carries its own risks.
India vs SA 1st T20 TV Channels
Star Sports will provide the live telecast in India. Coverage will be available in both English and Hindi commentary, along with regional language feeds.
In South Africa, the match will be shown on SuperSport Cricket.
Disney+ Hotstar will stream the match live in India for subscribers. SuperSport App will provide streaming in South Africa.
Positive news coming in for #TeamIndia! 👍@ShubmanGill and @hardikpandya7 have recovered and are all set to take on South Africa in the upcoming T20Is. 👏💪#INDvSA, 1st T20I 👉 TUE, 9th DEC, 6:00 PM pic.twitter.com/Nr8vzQhJkv
— Star Sports (@StarSportsIndia) December 8, 2025
Shubman Gill returns from a neck injury and will open alongside Abhishek Sharma, combining controlled aggression with explosive hitting.
Hardik Pandya, crucial to India’s balance, remains under slight fitness cloud after discomfort in the nets. He is on 98 T20I wickets, close to a milestone.
Jasprit Bumrah, with 99 T20I wickets, is set to become only the fifth bowler to reach 100 wickets across all formats.
Suryakumar Yadav said on the eve of the match, “Our preparation for the 2026 World Cup began right after we won in 2024. We’ve been trying new things and everything is working for us.”
South Africa Team News
Aiden Markram returns as captain, opening with Quinton de Kock. David Miller is back after a hamstring injury, strengthening the middle order.
Anrich Nortje makes his first international appearance since the 2024 T20 World Cup final, having dismissed Gill four times in seven innings.
India has lost both previous T20Is at Barabati Stadium against South Africa (2015, 2022).
Aiden Markram said, “It’s great that Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are not part of the T20I side, but still it’s a strong Indian team. We will approach it with a different plan.”
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