The much-anticipated 1st T20I between India and South Africa is ready to be performed on Tuesday, December 9 at Barabati Stadium in Cuttack, marking the beginning of a five-match sequence as a part of Workforce India’s build-up to the 2026 T20 World Cup.
With Shubman Gill returning as opener alongside Abhishek Sharma, the center order is locked in round captain Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, and all-rounders like Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube.
Nevertheless, the wicketkeeper-batter spot stays a hotly contested one between Sanju Samson and Jitesh Sharma – each are within the 15-member squad, however just one can play. And, the talk is much less about capability and extra about staff composition and the precise function required.
Samson, who loved a stellar 2024 calendar yr as an opener-keeper earlier than Shubman Gill’s return, has been shunted down the order. Jitesh Sharma, then again, is more and more seen because the staff’s designated death-overs finisher.
Former India all-rounder Ravi Ashwin has added his perspective to the extraordinary choice debate, highlighting the necessity for “function readability” because the staff fine-tunes its squad forward of the 2026 T20 World Cup.
Ravichandran Ashwin Weighs In On India’s Wicket-Keeper Conundrum
Former India spinner Ravichandran Ashwin has given his perspective to the extraordinary choice debate, highlighting the necessity for “function readability” because the staff fine-tunes its squad forward of the 2026 T20 World Cup.
The 39-year-old mentioned that he’s eager to see whether or not Samson would obtain sport time at quantity three within the five-match T20I sequence towards South Africa.
“I need to see if India will give Samson an opportunity at three, or will they go together with Suryakumar and Tilak at three and 4. They tried to make use of Sanju right here in Australia. The template needed to be modified for Gill got here in. Sanju was opening and giving that holding choice. Now that the opening batter and keeper has gone, you’re having to accommodate a keeper and finisher down the order. I shall be wanting ahead from India’s perspective, if we’re giving function readability to batters,” Ashwin mentioned on ‘Ash ki Baat’.
“I’m very eager to observe this T20 sequence. South Africa is one staff that may match us in batting energy. I additionally need to see if they are often actual contenders going into the World Cup, taking a look at their bowling. I do not see a lot bowling enamel. Whether or not they can match as much as Kuldeep (Yadav), Varun (Chakaravarthy), and (Jasprit) Bumrah all through the sequence will give us a good concept. It is a crucial sequence for India as nicely, as a result of they should Finalize their XI and batting positions and function readability. We are going to want some stability,” he added.
Suryakumar Yadav Opens Up On Sanju Samson’s Batting Spot
On the eve of the primary T20I in Cuttack, India captain Suryakumar Yadav mentioned that though Sanju Samson had impressed as an opener in his possibilities, the place rightfully belonged to Shubman Gill as soon as he returned to the squad.
“When it comes to Sanju, sure, when he got here into the circuit, he batted larger within the order. Apart from the openers, I really feel everybody must be very versatile. He did rather well when he opened the innings. However Shubman had performed earlier than him within the Sri Lanka sequence. So, he deserved to take that spot,” Suryakumar mentioned.
IND vs SA T20I 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 Chakravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Washington Sundar.
South Africa: Aiden Markram (c), Dewald Brevis, Tony de Zorzi, Reeza Hendricks, David Miller, George Linde, Corbin Bosch, Marco Jansen, Quinton de Kock (wk), Donovan Ferreira (wk), Tristan Stubbs, Ottneil Baartman, Keshav Maharaj, Kwena Maphaka, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje.