The five-match T20I series between India and South Africa begins on Tuesday, December 9, at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack. After being thrashed in the Test series, the hosts responded wonderfully by winning the ODIs 2-1 and now hope to extend their winning streak in T20Is.
Under Suryakumar Yadav, the Men in Blue have not lost a T20I series since winning the World Cup in 2024, making them one of the most consistent sides in the tournament.
This series also marks the commencement of India’s last preparations for the 2026 T20 World Cup. With only 10 T20Is left before the event, the hosts will want to test out all of their combinations. Notably, Shubman Gill and Hardik Pandya have returned to the club. South Africa, on the other side, is coming off a poor ODI series. They are likely to come hard at India in conditions that may benefit hitters.
Cuttack Weather Forecast
The afternoon on Tuesday, December 09, is expected to be bright and sunny, but conditions are set to change as the evening approaches. Cloud cover is likely throughout the match hours. According to AccuWeather, there is a 10% chance of rain, and brief interruptions cannot be ruled out. Meanwhile, temperatures will hover around 25 degrees in the morning and rise to 28 degrees in the afternoon before dipping to nearly 15 degrees by evening. The conditions are predicted to be hazy, with air quality remaining unhealthy.
Barabati Stadium, Cuttack Pitch Report
The pitch at Barabati Stadium will be a fresh red-soil and is known as a batting-friendly surface. Similar to the Wankhede track, it is expected to witness plenty of runs, with bounce. Spinners usually come into play during the middle overs, but teams batting second are expected to benefit significantly from the heavy dew. Conditions generally offer a bit of help for everyone, some early movement for pacers, grip for spinners, and a fast outfield that rewards the batters. South Africa will look to bounce back after their ODI series loss. The Proteas have won both of their previous T20Is here, including India’s collapse to 92 in 2015 and Heinrich Klaasen’s match-winning 81 in 2022.
India
