Cuttack is the venue for first of five T20 Internationals between India and South Africa, the game takes place on Tuesday and we take a look at the squads, recent form and the all important betting
The Proteas won both matches in the two game test series which kicked off this tour, coming out on top by margins of 30 runs and 408 runs. Thereafter a 3 match ODI series went to a decider on Sunday and a thumping 9 wicket win by India saw the host clinch it 2-1.
We now move on to the first of five T20’s and let's start with the squads.
India: Suryakumar Yadav (c), Shubman Gill (vc), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Sanju Samson (wk), Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Washington Sundar
Shubman Gill subject to a fitness test
South Africa: Aiden Markram (captain), Ottneil Baartman, Corbin Bosch, Dewald Brevis, Quinton de Kock, Tony de Zorzi, Donovan Ferreira, Reeza Hendricks, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, George Linde, Kwena Maphaka, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Tristan Stubbs
Tony Di Zorzi picked up an injury in the ODI series
India Recent Form
In October / November India were 2-1 winners in a 5 match series in Australia (2 no results).
In September India came through the Asia Cup tournament unbeaten, getting the better of Pakistan in the final in Dubai.
In Jan / Feb India were 4-1 winners at home to England.
South Africa Recent Form
The Proteas tour of Pakistan in October / November, they won the first match by 55 runs but then went down by 9 wickets and 4 wickets to lose the series 2-1.
Prior to that an under-strength Proteas side were surprisingly beaten by Namibia in a one off contest in Windhoe. A 3 match series in England in September was shared 1-1 with the decider washed out whilst in August the Proteas lost 2-1 in Australia.
Recent Head to Head
The most recent meetings came in South Africa in November 2024 and India won a 4 match series 3-1.
Overall the teams have met 31 times in this format with India winning 18 to South Africa’s 12 with 1 no result
The Betting
At the time of writing India are 9/20 to win and South Africa are 16/10
Prices subject to change
The Verdict
This looks a powerful India squad with solid recent T20 form so it’s a big ask for the PRoeas.
I’m siding with Suryakumar Yadav to be top bat for the hosts and I’ll nibble at the all round talents of Hardik Pandya in the Man of the Match market.
Nortje returns to the squad for the Proteas but I’m with George Linde as a value play to be the top SA bowler at a venue which has offered something for spinners in the past.
Bets: Top SA Bowler George Linde at 5.25/1 with Sportingbet
Top India Run Scorer Suryakumar Yadav at 32/10 with Sportingbet
Man of the Match, Hardik Pandya at 12.5/1 with Sportingbet
Prices subject to change