After the ODI series, India and South Africa will play a five-match T20I series. Both teams have already been announced. However, even before the series begins, the African team has suffered a major blow when fast bowler Kwena Mphaka and batsman Tony de Zorji have been ruled out of the T20I series due to hamstring injuries. Zorji is also not playing in the third ODI against India.
Double injury blow for South Africa
Tony Zorzi appeared to be struggling with a hamstring problem in the second ODI against India. He retired hurt after the 45th over on 17 runs. He is not fully fit yet and will return home, and his replacement has not yet been announced. Cricket South Africa has announced that fast bowler Kwena Mphaka has also withdrawn from the T20I squad, as he will need time to recover from a left hamstring injury. Lutho Sipamla has been included in the squad in his place.
A total of 31 T20 International matches have been played between India and South Africa, of which India has won 18. South Africa has only won 12. Consequently, the Indian team has the upper hand in T20I cricket.
The first match will be played at Cuttack
The first match of the T20 series between India and South Africa will be played on December 9 at Cuttack. The second match will be played on December 11 and the third on December 14. The fourth match of the series will be played in Lucknow on December 17, and the fifth match in Ahmedabad on December 19.
Squads of both teams for the T20I series:
India: Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Shubman Gill, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dubey, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma, Sanju Samson, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana and Washington Sundar
South Africa: Aiden Markram (captain), Ottniel Bartman, Corbin Bosch, Dewald Brewis, Quinton de Kock (wicketkeeper), Donovan Ferreira, Reeza Hendricks, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, David Miller, George Linde, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Lutho Sipamla and Tristan Stubbs.