Because the Males in Blue gear as much as face the Proteas within the five-match T20I collection beginning tomorrow, December 9, on the Barabati Stadium, anticipation is at an all-time excessive. Contemporary off a spirited 2-1 victory within the ODI leg, India transitions to the shortest format with a squad brimming with explosive expertise and tactical thriller.
With the T20 World Cup 2026 on the horizon, this collection serves as a vital litmus take a look at for Suryakumar Yadav‘s management and India’s aggressive template. Whereas the guests possess a formidable lineup, some Indian stars, particularly, look poised to dismantle the South African problem.
3 Indian gamers who can bother Proteas within the T20I leg
1) Abhishek Sharma
If there’s one identify that has redefined T20 batting in 2025, it’s Abhishek Sharma. The Punjab southpaw lately etched his identify in historical past books in the course of the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, changing into the primary Indian batter ever to smash over 100 sixes in T20s in a single calendar yr. His numbers this yr are nothing wanting video-game figures: in 36 innings, he has amassed practically 1,500 runs at a staggering strike fee of 204.22, together with three centuries and 9 fifties.
Abhishek enters this collection in red-hot type, recent off a blistering marketing campaign within the home circuit the place he struck at practically 250 and registered a career-best 148. South Africa’s tempo assault, normally their largest power, faces a extreme take a look at in opposition to Abhishek’s high-risk template. Having already hit 47 sixes in simply 17 T20Is this yr, his skill to clear the ropes from ball one makes him the first menace the Proteas should neutralize early to keep away from a Powerplay demolition.
2) Varun Chakaravarthy
Varun Chakaravarthy‘s resurgence has been the tactical headline of India’s bowling assault this yr. The thriller spinner is presently having fun with the type of his life, having been named Participant of the Collection in opposition to England earlier in 2025 the place he claimed 14 wickets, together with a mesmerising 5/24. His consistency was additional cemented in IPL 2025, the place he picked up 17 wickets in 13 matches with an economic system fee of simply 7.66—gold mud in fashionable T20 cricket.
Crucially for this collection, Chakaravarthy has a psychological edge over the hosts. In his final T20I outing in opposition to the Proteas in November 2024, he spun an online round their center order to say a career-best 5/17. With the Cuttack pitch anticipated to supply some grip, his distinctive skill to show the ball each methods with out a discernible change in motion makes him India’s trump card to choke the run circulation within the center overs.
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3) Suryakumar Yadav
Whereas Suryakumar stays probably the most feared identify on the staff sheet, the Indian skipper enters this collection with a large level to show. The yr 2025 has been a story of two distinct halves for SKY: a sensational IPL marketing campaign the place he amassed a staggering 717 runs—together with a record-breaking streak of consecutive 25+ scores—versus a perplexing dip in worldwide colours.
The current stats paint a regarding image for ‘Mr. 360.’ By late October, Surya had managed solely 100 runs in 11 T20Is, languishing with an uncharacteristic common of round 11.11. His struggles to transform begins have been evident in the course of the Asia Cup, the place he totaled simply 65 runs with a excessive rating of 47*, and continued into the collection in opposition to Australia with modest returns of 39*, 1, 24, and 20.
Nonetheless, South Africa mustn’t underestimate him based mostly on this stoop. With the T20 World Cup approaching, the stress is on, and SKY is determined to bridge the hole between his IPL dominance and his worldwide output. A wounded tiger is commonly probably the most harmful, and this collection presents the right stage for the captain to silence his critics and return to his damaging finest.
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