Shubman Gill In, Harshit Rana Out: India's Likely XI For 1st T20I vs South Africa In Cuttack

Team India has assembled in Odisha as they are set to face South Africa in the first game of the 5-match T20I series, starting from December 9 at Barabati Stadium in Cuttack. After defeating the Proteas 2-1 in the ODIs, the men in blue will look to begin the T20Is on a winning note.

More importantly, this series serves the Indian management with an opportunity to assess the bench strength before getting into the T20 World Cup next year at home. Ahead of the mega ICC event, India are slated to play 10 games – 5 each against South Africa and New Zealand, which offers abundant opportunities to the coaches to finalise their group of 15.

The series also marks the return of Hardik Pandya and Shubman Gill, who have been away from action due to injuries.

Pandya hurt his quadriceps during the Asia Cup 2025 and was ruled out of the final. On the other hand, Gill’s neck injury cut short his participation in the 2-match Test series, followed by the subsequent ODIs against South Africa.

As India enter the series opener against South Africa in Cuttack, all eyes will be on the Playing XI against Aiden Markram’s South Africa.

Since Gill is back in the mix after clearing a fitness test at the BCCI’s Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru, he is most likely to take the opener’s role with his best friend Abhishek Sharma. Captain Suryakumar Yadav will walk out to bat at no. 3, while Tilak Varma, the hero of the Asia Cup final, will take the fourth position in the batting order.

No. 5 should ideally be reserved for Sanju Samson, as he is no longer opening the innings. But this position often turns situational, and hence, the management tends to experiment with its resources by shuffling the order.

As Hardik Pandya is back, he would be expected to fire on all cylinders and bat at no. 6. Axar Patel would add strength to the line-up, with both bat and ball.

With 7 batting options available, India would field a couple of spinners in Kuldeep Yadav and Varun Chakravarthy. Jasprit Bumrah will also return after being rested for the ODIs and is likely to lead the 2-man pace attack, including Arshdeep Singh.

India’s Likely Playing XI for 1^st T20I vs South Africa:

Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav, Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh