The World T20 champions India are set to face South Africa in a four-match T20I series. The first match of the series will be played at Kingsmead Stadium in Durban on November 8. The Proteas will be coming with some experienced players along with some new and young faces for the home T20I series against Men in Blue. On the other hand, India will hope for their new-look T20I side to clinch another series.
Last time, India toured South Africa for a T20I series, and the three-match series finished at 1-1 with one match getting washed out due to rain. Suryakumar Yadav, who was the stand-in captain on that tour, will be coming back as full-time T20I skipper of India. He will be looking to get his first series win as a skipper in a SENA country. On the other hands, South Africa will also look to avenge the 2024 T20 World Cup final defeat against Men in Blue.
South Africa vs India Head-to-Head in T20Is
South Africa and India have locked horns 27 times in the T20I format before, out of which India have won 15 times, while South Africa come out victorious on 11 occasions, with one match ended in no result. Both teams last met during the 2024 T20 World Cup final in Barbados on June 29. India won that nail-biting final by seven runs to lift their second T20 World Cup title after 17 years.
Kingsmead Stadium Pitch report
The first T20I will be played at Kingsmead Stadium in Durban. The ground is known to favor the fast bowlers, who get advantage from the extra movement due to moisture. However, the batters can also get big scores at this ground if they spend some time at the crease, and we are likely to witness a high-scoring clash between South African and Indian on November 8.
Kingsmead Stadium Records
Kingsmead Stadium in Durban is one of the oldest cricket stadiums in South Africa with the capacity of 25000.The first-ever international match being played at this ground was in January 1923. The average first innings score in a T20 match in Durban is between 150 to 160. The Kingsmead stadium has hosted 18 T20I matches so far, in which the team batting first and the chasing have won eight matches each, with one game ending in a tie and one ending in no result.
It is also the same ground where Yuvraj Singh smashed six sixes in an over as India posted 218/4, the second highest T20I score in Durban. The highest T20I score of 226/6 at this ground was posted by Australia against South Africa in 2023. The lowest total at this ground was registered by Kenya, as they were bowled out for 73 runs against New Zealand during the 2007 T20 World Cup.
Most Runs in South Africa vs India T20Is among active players
South African batter David Miller is currently the all-time leading run scorer in the T20I matches between South Africa and India. The left-hander has amassed 452 runs in 21 T20I matches against Men in Blue at a strike rate of 156.94 along with one century and T20 fifties. Along with him, Heinrich Klassen is another player in the current South African squad with most T20I runs against India with 274 runs in 10 matches, with a strike rate of 168.09.
Talking about India, skipper Suryakumar Yadav has scored most runs among players from the current Indian squad in T20I matches against South Africa. The right-hander has 346 runs in seven games against the Proteas at a staggering strike rate of 175.63 along with a century.
Most Wickets in South Africa vs India T20Is among active players
Keshav Maharaj is one of the most experienced bowlers in the current South African squad in the T20I matches against India. The left-arm spinner has taken 12 wickets in 11 T20I matches against India. On the other hand, fast bowler Arshdeep Singh has taken most wickets against the Proteas in T20Is among players from the current Indian side for the upcoming series.
South Africa vs India T20I series Squads
South Africa: Aiden Markram (c), Ottneil Baartman, Gerald Coetzee, Donovan Ferreira, Reeza Hendricks, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen, Patrick Kruger, Keshav Maharaj, David Miller, Mihlali Mpongwana, Nqaba Peter, Ryan Rickelton, Andile Simelane, Lutho Sipamla (3rd and 4th T20Is), and Tristan Stubbs.
India: Suryakumar Yadav (C), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (WK), Rinku Singh, Tilak Varma, Jitesh Sharma (WK), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Ramandeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Avesh Khan, Yash Dayal.
