Last Updated on 6 seconds ago by Charbel Coorey

After India sealed the ODI series in emphatic fashion on Saturday, attention turns to the five-match T20I series starting in Cuttack on Tuesday.

The hosts are the best T20I team in the world, boasting a magnificent record since the start of 2024. They have won 37 of 41 completed matches in this period, including T20 World Cup and Asia Cup titles, along with a series win in Australia last month. Now, they are set to welcome Hardik Pandya back from injury, which makes them stronger.

So, South Africa face a tough test, but it serves as magnificent preparation for the upcoming T20 World Cup. They bat deep with their all-rounders capable of striking blows down the order. Whether their bowling attack can keep the strong Indian batting lineup in check remains to be seen.

IND vs SA 1st T20 2025 Possible Playing XIs

India are set to welcome back Shubman Gill and Hardik Pandya. Hardik’s inclusion gives India plenty of balance with three seam and three spin options.

India: 1. Abhishek Sharma, 2. Shubman Gill, 3. Tilak Varma, 4. Suryakumar Yadav (c), 5. Axar Patel, 6. Jitesh Sharma/Sanju Samson (wk), 7. Hardik Pandya, 8. Kuldeep Yadav, 9. Varun Chakravarthy, 10. Arshdeep Singh, 11. Jasprit Bumrah

David Miller is in the squad and could feature in the top five alongside Markram, de Kock, Stubbs and Brevis. Anrich Nortje is also available and could play.

South Africa: 1. Aiden Markram (c), 2. Quinton de Kock (wk), 3. Tristan Stubbs, 4. Dewald Brevis, 5. David Miller, 6. Donovan Ferreira, 7. Marco Jansen, 8. Corbin Bosch, 9. George Linde/Lungi Ngidi, 10. Keshav Maharaj, 11. Ottneil Baartman/Anrich Nortje

Barabati Stadium Cuttack Pitch Report and Weather

Cuttack has played host to three T20Is, played in 2015, 2017 and 2022. The average first innings score is 140.

In the 2022 T20I between India and South Africa, the Proteas restricted India to 148/6. Heinrich Klaasen (81* off 46 balls) was the difference in a game where batters largely struggled. South Africa won by four wickets with 10 balls to spare.

No rain is forecast. The team who wins the toss is likely to chase.

Fantasy Cricket Tips for IND vs SA 1st T20 2025: Key Players to Watch/Key Stats

Top wicket-keeper picks:

• Quinton de Kock, fresh off a century in the third ODI, is a good pick in this match as he should open the batting. He also has a strong T20I record against India: 10 inns, 351 runs, avg. 43.87, SR 138.73.

Key batter picks:

• Abhishek Sharma will be rearing to go. He has smashed 758 runs in the powerplay in all T20s this year at a strike rate of 188.6. The left-hander is a top captaincy pick.
• Suryakumar Yadav is enduring some poor T20I form in 2025, with just 184 runs at 15.33. But, he has strong numbers against the Proteas with 372 runs at an average of 41.33 and strike rate of 163.87.
• Dewald Brevis is a terrific spin hitter. He has smashed 426 runs at an average of 85.2 and strike rate of 182.8 against spin in all T20s this year. Brevis is also South Africa’s leading run-scorer this year in T20Is (395, avg. 35.90, SR 183.72).

Top all-rounder picks:

• Hardik Pandya is back. Can he fire right away? The all-rounder has 231 runs (avg. 33, SR 121.57) and 11 wickets (avg. 33.54, econ. 8.58) against South Africa.
• Aiden Markram recently hit a superb century in the ODI series. He averages 21.70 in 10 T20I innings against India; a record he can improve.
• Marco Jansen is a strong pick for Dream11 given his all-round form. He will be looking to improve his T20I record against India with six wickets currently at an average of 40.83 and economy of 9.07. He also has some tough matchups (see below).

Key bowler picks:

• Arshdeep Singh has an outstanding record against Quinton de Kock. He has dismissed the South African opener three times for 19 runs in 19 balls in T20Is. Arshdeep also has the most wickets in IND-SA T20Is (18).
• Varun Chakravarthy is India’s leading wicket-taker in T20Is this year (26) at a superb average of 13.96 and strike rate of 12. He also has a superb record against the Proteas, with 12 wickets in just four T20Is at an average of 11.50 and strike rate of 8.00.
• Jasprit Bumrah has dismissed Aiden Markram four times in T20s (see below). He also has good overall numbers against David Miller (2/49 off 43 balls) and Tristan Stubbs (1/9 off 16 balls) in all T20s.

Other Players to Consider for your Fantasy Cricket Teams

• The experienced David Miller has the most runs in IND-SA T20Is (524) at an average of 34.93 and strike rate of 147.19.
• Kuldeep Yadav has taken six wickets in three T20Is against South Africa, including figures of 5/17.
• Tilak Varma has smashed two centuries in six T20Is against South Africa. He has 309 runs against them at an average of 77.25 and strike rate of 190.74.
• Corbin Bosch had an excellent T20I series against Pakistan last month. He took seven wickets at an average of 7.85. He can also contribute with the bat.

Other Stats and Important Matchups

• Head-to-head: Matches 31, India 18, South Africa 12, N/R 1.
• Abhishek Sharma scored 97 runs in four T20Is against South Africa in 2024 (avg. 24.25, SR 173.21).
• Suryakumar Yadav has five 50+ scores in 10 T20 innings against South Africa.
• Keshav Maharaj vs. India in T20Is: 15 inns, 15 wickets, avg. 27.66, econ. 8.64.
• Marco Jansen vs. Abhishek Sharma in all T20s: 22 balls, 49 runs, no dismissal.
• Marco Jansen vs. Suryakumar Yadav in all T20s: 26 balls, 56 runs, one wicket.
• Varun Chakravarthy vs. Quinton de Kock in all T20s: 32 balls, 39 wickets, two wickets.
• Varun Chakravarthy vs. Aiden Markram in all T20s: 60 balls, 95 runs, four wickets.
• Jasprit Bumrah vs. Aiden Markram in all T20s: 17 balls, 13 runs, one wicket.

IND vs SA 1st T20 2025 Dream11 Prediction Today

Note: The below teams are not based on the final playing XIs. We may not be able to update these in time. Use the stats and commentary in this article, as well as your own instincts, to create your teams. 

Option 1:

Option 2:

IND vs SA 1st T20 2025 Match Prediction: Who will win?

Chasing could prove pivotal in this match. However, India look very strong and I will back them to win this game.