India, led by Suryakumar Yadav, will take on South Africa in the first T20I of the five-match series at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack on Tuesday, December 9. Ahead of the opener, BCCI shared a video of Team India players wearing the brand new T20I jersey for the first time ahead of the domestic World Cup 2026.
The upcoming T20I series will be the final leg of India’s preparations before the T20 World Cup. Several key players including Suryakumar Yadav, Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma and Shivam Dubey joined the national team after playing for their respective state teams in the ongoing Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy 2025.
Ready for the third star – India captain Suryakumar Yadav
BCCI unveiled a pre-series photoshoot video with stars like Hardik Pandya, Shubman Gill, Abhishek Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah in the new T20I jersey. There are less than two months left for the T20 World Cup to start, so the team will play only 10 T20 matches before the tournament.
Suryakumar Yadav, who is leading India in the series, expressed excitement about the new kit and the challenge ahead. He said the jersey’s two stars, representing the two World Cup titles, now serve as inspiration as the team aims for a third title.
“The three stripes are high and clear, but yes, two stars are already here, and ready for the third. I’m very excited to wear this jersey. I think it looks amazing. The fit is good,” Indian T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav said in the video.
New threads
Same dreamEyes on T20I series opener #TeamIndia , #INDvSA , @IDFCFIRSTBANK pic.twitter.com/0Ydytkx2bH
– BCCI (@BCCI) 9 December 2025
I am always very attracted all the time – Hardik Pandya
Hardik Pandya shared his excitement about India’s latest T20I jersey, saying that he has always enjoyed the moment of trying out a fresh kit. Pandya said he hoped fans would also embrace the new look, creating a unified, electric atmosphere in the stadiums.
Pandya said, “You know, whenever we get a new jersey I am always very excited. I have been very lucky all the time that I wear a new jersey and this time too it is the same feeling.”
“I would like to add another star here in a few months. These little details are very exciting, and it looks fresh. I hope everyone in the stadium will come along with the same thing so that we can turn the entire stadium into the same jersey.”
BCCI unveils new T20I look in presence of former World Cup winner Rohit Sharma
India’s newly designed T20I jersey was unveiled by Rohit Sharma during the mid-innings break of the 2nd ODI against South Africa in Raipur. He was joined by Tilak Verma when BCCI Secretary Devjit Saikia and Adidas India’s Vijay Chauhan officially handed over the World Cup kit on the stage.
The refreshed design brings together modern performance features with 1990s nostalgia, featuring updated patterns while maintaining the classic neckline from the 2024 T20 World Cup winning strip.
As India enter the final stages of their preparations, the focus has now shifted to building a team capable of handling the pressure of a domestic World Cup. Riding on the momentum from the win over Pakistan in the Asia Cup, India will be looking to defend their T20 title even without stars like Virat Kohli, Rohit and Ravindra Jadeja.
Also read: Before South Africa T20I, former coach called Hardik Pandya an irreplaceable player of Team India.
