India Will face South Africa in the first match of the five-match T20 series. This article provides details about the playing 11 of South Africa vs India for the first match of the series.
South Africa Playing XI vs India – 1st T20I, South Africa tour of India 2025:
Openers: Quinton de Kock (wk), Reeza Hendricks
South Africa had suffered a defeat in their previous T20I series against Pakistan and will look to return to winning ways with a win in the first T20I against India.
The Proteas can take confidence from the fact that they have won both the matches played against India in this format of the game at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack, which is the venue of the upcoming match.
South Africa are expected to open the batting with Quinton de Kock and Reeza Hendricks, both of whom will be responsible for giving the team a good start in the first six overs.
Apart from batting well in partnership, both the batsmen will also look to score runs individually to gain confidence for the upcoming matches.
Middle-order batsmen and all-rounders: Aiden Markram (captain), Tristan Stubbs, Tony De Zorzi, Dewald Brewis, David Miller, Marco Johnson, Corbin Bosch.
When it comes to the middle order, it includes players like captain Aiden Markram, Tristan Stubbs, Dewald Brewis and experienced batsman David Miller, all of whom have the ability to turn the match in their team’s favour.
All eyes will be on Aiden Markram, who as the captain of the team will want to lead from the front and will be expected to get good support from the other batsmen as well.
As was the case in the ODI series, South Africa will have the option to play with freedom, which T20I cricket demands as they have depth in their batting lineup, which extends up to number eight.
The presence of two fast bowling all-rounders in the playing eleven in Marco Jensen and Corbin Bosch provides stability to the team and provides the captain with the option to try different combinations in both the batting and bowling departments.
Having said that, the onus will be on the top five batsmen to score more runs for the team while putting pressure on the opposition bowlers.
Bowlers: Keshav Maharaj, Anrich Nortje, Lungi Ngidi
South Africa will have six bowling options in the playing eleven for the first T20 match against India.
Players like Anrich Nortje, Lungi Ngidi, Marco Johnson and Corbin Bosch will take charge of the fast bowling department of the team.
The Proteas’ spin bowling department will be handled by Keshav Maharaj, who is expected to be the only specialist spinner in the playing XI for this match, with Aiden Markram also expected to bowl a few overs if required.
All things considered, the team management will rely on its bowlers to contain the Indian batsmen through some intelligent bowling.