Debut for Simelane as South Africa choose to bowl against India in first T20I
India went with three specialist spinners in Chakravarthy, Bishnoi and Axar while South Africa missed Reeza Hendricks due to illness
Suryakumar Yadav leads a new-look Indian squad in a four-match T20 series as the Proteas seek to avenge their recent loss in the World Cup final.
South Africa chose to bowl v India
Aiden Markam decided to chase in the first match of South Africa’s international home summer, with a line-up loaded with allrounders. Both Marco Jansen and Gerald Coetzee were included in the XI for the first time in almost four months in their respective returns from injury and conditioning blocks. Patrick Kruger, who has played either side of the T20 World Cup, kept his place and South Africa included a fourth seam-bowling allrounder in debutant Andile Simelane. The occasion was made extra special for the 21-year-old, who plays his domestic cricket in Durban.
South Africa also have the option of two specialist spinners in left-armer Keshav Maharaj and legspinner Nqabayomzi Peter while Markram may also bowl. Markram’s regular opening partner Reeza Hendricks was ruled out with illness.
India went spin heavy with two legspinners in Varun Chakravarthy and Ravi Bishnoi, left-arm spinner Axar Patel, left-arm seamer Arshdeep Singh and right-arm quick Avesh Khan. There was no room for uncapped allrounder Ramandeep Singh. Abhishek Sharma and Tilak Varma could also bowl spin. Their batting was headlined by Sanju Samson, Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya but ends with Axar at No. 7.
Suryakumar was happy to bat first on a surface that should suit big run-scoring in conditions where a full game should be played. Despite some grey clouds overhead, a strong breeze should keep them moving and the sizeable crowd entertained.
South Africa: 1 Ryan Rickelton, 2 Aiden Markram (capt), 3 Tristan Stubbs, 4 Heinrich Klaasen (wk), 5 David Miller, 6 Patrick Kruger, 7 Marco Jansen, Andile Simelane, 9 Gerald Coetzee, 10 Keshav Maharaj, 11 Nqabayomzi Peter.
India: 1 Sanju Samson (wk), 2 Abhishek Sharma, 3 Suryakumar Yadav (capt), 4 Tilak Varma, 5 Hardik Pandya, 6 Rinku Singh, 7 Axar Patel, 8 Arshdeep Singh, 9 Ravi Bishnoi, 10 Avesh Khan, 11 Varun Chakravarthy.
What’s the full match schedule of the India-South Africa T20 series?
Match 1: Friday, November 8 at 5pm (15:00 GMT) in Kingsmead, Durban
Match 2: Sunday, November 10 at 4pm (14:00 GMT) at St George’s Park, Gqeberha
Match 3: Wednesday, November 13 at 5pm (15:00 GMT) at SuperSport Park, Centurion
Match 4: Friday, November 15 at 5pm (15:00 GMT) at The Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg
India vs South Africa: T20 head-to-head record
The 27 T20 encounters between the two sides have been nearly even, with India winning 15 games – including the World Cup final – and South Africa 11. One game ended in a “no result” due to a washout.
Both teams won a game apiece when the Proteas last hosted India in a bilateral T20 series in December.
Form guide: South Africa
The hosts’ fortunes in the T20 format have taken a hit since the June 29 final loss in Barbados, as they have won only one of their five T20 international matches.
Last five results: L W L L L
Form guide: India
The world champions are on a 10-game winning streak in the T20 format, with a shock loss away to Zimbabwe in July being the only blot on their 23-match record in 2024.
Last five results: W W W W W
