Cuttack: Team India kick off preparations for the upcoming T20 World Cup, as they play the first of 10 home games at the Barabati Stadium here on Tuesday.
The five-match series against South Africa will be followed by five T20Is versus New Zealand, before the 2026 T20 World Cup – to be co-hosted by India and Sri Lanka – kicks off on February 7.
Besides the target of winning another home series, there is a sub-plot to the Barabati contest. Suryakumar Yadav’s men will be looking to do what his predecessors could not – beat South Africa in a T20 International at Cuttack.
Of the three T20Is Barabati Stadium has staged so far, two involved South Africa. And in both those clashes, Proteas prevailed over the Men in Blue. In the other T20I at Cuttack, India got the better of Sri Lanka.
On October 5, 2015, the MS Dhoni-led team lost by 6 wickets to South Africa at Barabati after being bundled out for 92 in 17.2 overs.
Then on June 12, 2022, Rishabh Pant-captained India put up a slightly better show, managing to put up 148/6 in 20 overs. Despite having South Africa on the mat at 29/3, India had no answer to Heinrich Klaasen’s onslaught and lost by 4 wickets.
Will the current Indian team be third time lucky against the Proteas at Barabati?
The capacity crowd, expected to fill up the stadium on Tuesday, will have every reason to be optimistic.
Defending world champions India are a formidable side in the shortest format, having won a T20I series in Australia 2-1 just a month ago.
As Suryakumar aka SKY said at the pre-match press conference, the team has been bolstered by the comebacks of allrounder Hardik Pandya as well as Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill.
Their presence gives the Indian team a more balanced look. In left-handed opener Abhishek Sharma, the home team has a one-man demolition army, who was top-scorer in the recent series against Australia.
Jasprit Bumrah’s presence could be a huge factor, while Varun Chakravarthy and Kuldeep Yadav can turn any game with their magical spin.
South Africa will certainly be no pushovers. Skipper Aiden Markram, tall pacer Marco Jansen and power-hitter David Miller, making a comeback, will be the backbone of a strong side. The Proteas will also be keen to redeem themselves, having lost the 2024 T20 World Cup final against India from a winning position.
The toss will be crucial, as chasing teams have an advantage in conditions where dew is likely to set in after sunset.
