India and South Africa are contesting a five-match T20I series in India from Dec 9–19, 2025 (often marketed as “IND vs SA T20 2026”). The fixtures are: 1st T20I on Dec 9 at Cuttack, 2nd on Dec 11 at New Chandigarh, 3rd on Dec 14 at Dharamsala, 4th on Dec 17 at Lucknow, and 5th on Dec 19 at Ahmedabad. This series serves as a key warm-up for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 (Feb–Mar 2026) which India is co-hosting. India are the defending T20 world champions and enter ranked #1 in ICC T20Is, while South Africa sit fifth. India’s squad (captain Suryakumar Yadav) includes returning stars Hardik Pandya and Shubman Gill. For South Africa, skipper Aiden Markram leads an attack boosted by Anrich Nortje’s comeback from injury.
1st T20I – Dec 9, Cuttack: India by 101 runs
India made a statement in the series opener at Cuttack on Dec 9, crushing South Africa by 101 runs. Batting first, India recovered from 78/4 to post 175/6 in 20 overs, led by all-rounder Hardik Pandya’s blistering 59 off 28 balls*. Pandya smashed 4 sixes and 6 fours, “back[ing] his shots” on a tricky wicket. When South Africa batted, India’s bowlers ran riot. All six Indian bowlers took wickets, with Lungi Ngidi (SA) 3/31 the only exception. Left-arm spinner Axar Patel (2/7), Arshdeep Singh (2/14), Jasprit Bumrah (2/17) and Varun Chakravarthy (2/19) were among India’s wicket-takers. The Proteas collapsed from 45/3 to 74 all out (12.3 overs) – their lowest-ever T20I total – as Pandya also chipped in with a wicket. Bumrah’s two-for on the night earned him his 100th T20I wicket milestone. Pandya’s 59 earned him Player of the Match honors.
South Africa’s batting was led by Dewald Brevis (22 off 14) but lacked partnerships. India thus took a 1–0 series lead. “We didn’t have a lot of partnerships,” lamented South African captain Aiden Markram after the loss. He pointed out the ‘sticky’ pitch conditions and conceded that India’s total had been daunting: “We would have taken 175 at the toss… we could have had them 10–15 runs short. But we didn’t have [batting] partnerships.. Markram’s sentiments and India’s confidence were fitting, as India’s bowlers left no one to challenge their score.
2nd T20I – Dec 11, Chandigarh: Match Preview
The second T20I is scheduled for Dec 11 at the new Maharaja Yadavindra Singh Stadium in Chandigarh. India will look to build on the Cuttack win, while South Africa seek answers under coach Shukri Conrad’s guidance. Key battles will include India’s spin (Chakravarthy, Axar, Kuldeep) against SA’s in-form batters (Reeza Hendricks, David Miller, Markram). (Results and stats for this match are pending.)
3rd–5th T20Is: Remaining Fixtures
The remaining three T20Is are on Dec 14 (Dharamsala), Dec 17 (Lucknow) and Dec 19 (Ahmedabad). These games will finalize the series result and continue preparations for both sides ahead of the World Cup. (As of Dec 12, 2026 the current series status is that India leads, but the final outcome will be updated after these matches.)
Key Performances and Stats
- Hardik Pandya (IND): Player of the 1st T20I with 59*(28) and a wicket. His counter-attacking innings helped India recover from 78/4. Pandya’s all-round show underlined why he’s crucial to India’s T20 plans.
- Indian Bowlers: Arshdeep Singh, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakravarthy, and Axar Patel all picked two wickets in the 1st T20I, sharing the spoils of a dominant bowling effort. Bumrah’s two wickets also marked his 100th in T20Is.
- Lungi Ngidi (SA): The only Proteas bowler with multiple wickets in Game 1 (3/31), Ngidi struck early but lacked support as others leaked runs.
- Dewald Brevis (SA): Top-scored for South Africa in the opener with 22, a lone bright spot in a batting collapse.
- Suryakumar Yadav (IND): India’s captain (T20I) will lead a batting lineup featuring itself star SKY at No.3, and vice-captain Shubman Gill (fit again after injury) at the top. Their form will be vital in tight games.
In the limited matches played so far, India’s batting depth (with contributions from Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, etc.) and its varied bowling attack have been showcased. South Africa, with veterans like Markram, de Kock and Miller alongside young talent (Brevis, Stubbs), will look to bounce back in the next matches.
Captain and Coach Quotes
South Africa captain Aiden Markram admitted his team was second-best after Game 1: “It was quite sticky, some tennis balls bounced… We would have taken 175 at the toss… We didn’t have a lot of partnerships.” He acknowledged the gap and urged improvement. South Africa coach Shukri Conrad (quoted by media) expressed concern, noting that his “batting went downhill” in that game.
India’s camp was jubilant after the win. Hardik Pandya, player of the match, said: “I had to back my shots… [the pitch] had a bit of spice. I had to be a bit gutsy”. India’s management highlighted that such assertive play from Pandya and others bodes well heading into the World Cup. (Indian coach Rahul Dravid had earlier praised Pandya’s balance and Gill’s fitness in press conferences.)
Read Also : Hardik Pandya back for South Africa T20
Newsworthy Notes: Injuries & Controversies
No major controversies have marred the series so far. India’s squad has the benefit of key players returning from injury – Gill is back from a neck problem and Pandya from a quad strain. South Africa welcomed Anrich Nortje back into the bowling lineup, and David Miller returned to T20Is after a year. No new injury setbacks were reported in the opening game.
One milestone: Jasprit Bumrah reached 100 T20I wickets during the series opener, joining an elite club of Indian bowlers. Conversely, South Africa’s lowest-ever T20I total (74) is an unwelcome record highlighted by this series’ start.
Series Status (as of Dec 12, 2026) and ICC Implications
After one match, India leads the series 1–0. The outcome of the remaining games will determine the series winner. Beyond this bilateral contest, the series impacts ICC rankings and World Cup readiness. India remains the ICC T20I #1 side; strong wins here would solidify that status. For South Africa (currently #5), good results could improve their position before the T20 World Cup.
Both teams view this series as final preparation for the ICC Men’s T20 World Cup 2026 in India. India will kick off the World Cup on Feb 7, 2026 at Mumbai’s Wankhede Stadium (against USA) and is also set to host the final in Ahmedabad on March 8. South Africa is drawn in Group D in that tournament. The performances and combinations from the IND vs SA series will influence selections and tactics for the World Cup, making every match important beyond just the series scoreline.
