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SA vs IND 2024/25, SA vs IND 1st T20I Match Preview

Big picture: T20 World Cup final rematch

In a way, Friday's T20I between South Africa and India is a vendetta. The last time these two teams met was in Barbados, in the final of the 2024 T20 World Cup. India had no business winning that game as South Africa needed 30 from 30 balls with six wickets in hand. But Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya and Co. snatched the victory and the trophy away from South Africa, which broke their hearts.

In other ways it is not so. Many of the protagonists of this finale will not be in action in this series. Of the Indian eleven for the final, only four – Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya Axar Patel and Arshdeep Singh – are part of the current squad. South Africa will also be without Quinton de Kock, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje and Tabraiz Shamsi.

Therefore, this four-game series might seem inconsequential. But don't forget that the next T20 World Cup is just 15 months away and teams have already started preparing for it.

India recently suffered a shock defeat against New Zealand at home, albeit in Test cricket. Their T20I side, which has never looked so different from their Test team, is coming off an impressive 3-0 series win against Bangladesh. They continued their attack pattern from the World Cup and posted a mammoth score of 297 for 6 in their last T20I.

South Africa has not yet recovered from the final defeat. Since then, they have lost 3-0 to the West Indies and drawn 1-1 with Ireland in this format. If they play at home now, can they bounce back?

Form Guide

South Africa LWLLL (last five T20Is, most recent first)
India WWWWW

In the spotlight: Aiden Markram and Tilak Varma

Aiden Markram has crossed 25 just once in 14 T20I innings this year. His record in the format is 201, with an average of 16.75 and a strike rate of 118.23. This is in complete contrast to his career numbers: 32.17 average, 144.62 strike rate. On the eve of the first T20I against India, he said he was in good shape mentally. Both he and South Africa would want this to be converted into runs.

A few freak hand injuries earlier this year had put Tilak Varma's career on hold. Now that he's back in the game, the competition has become more intense. He was drafted in as an injured replacement for Shivam Dube for the Bangladesh T20Is but did not get a match. He then led India in the Emerging Asia Cup in Oman, where his results were lackluster: 117 runs in four innings at a strike rate of 120.61. Can he compete against a much tougher opponent?

Team news: Debuts for Simelane and Ramandeep?

South Africa could hand all-rounder Andile Simelane his debut. Simelane plays his domestic cricket at Kingsmead, which could come in handy.

South Africa (probably): 1 Reeza Hendricks, 2 Ryan Rickelton (Week), 3 Aiden Markram (Capt), 4 Tristan Stubbs, 5 Heinrich Klaasen, 6 David Miller, 7 Marco Jansen/Gerald Coetzee, 8 Andile Simelane, 9 Nqabayomzi Peter, 10 Keshav Maharaj, 11 Ottneil Baartman

India is likely to hand batting all-rounder Ramandeep Singh his T20I cap. Axar Patel should also get a chance after warming up the bench during New Zealand's Test series.

India (probable): 1 Sanju Samson (wk), 2 Abhishek Sharma, 3 Suryakumar Yadav (Capt), 4 Tilak Varma, 5 Hardik Pandya, 6 Rinku Singh, 7 Ramandeep Singh, 8 Axar Patel, 9 Avesh Khan, 10 Arshdeep Singh, 11 Varun Chakravarthy

Place and conditions: Runs 'n Rains

South Africa does not have fond memories of Durban. Last year, Australia whitewashed them in a series of three T20Is, all played at the venue. It's a high scoring venue. The average first innings total in the last seven T20Is here is 184. However, the weather could spoil things – there is a 40% chance of rain on Friday. The last time India was scheduled to play a T20I here, in December 2023, rain did not allow even a toss.

Statistics and trivia: Suryakumar's hit rate

Quotes

“It's been a busy few months. Obviously we've touched on the reasons for this, opportunities for growth and things that will make cricketers in South Africa better over a long period of time. But as a captain it hurts your pride” and I am very proud to wear that badge and want to carry it on and win games and series for South Africa. But the focus is on the bigger picture and how much it will help cricket in South Africa moving forward. Sometimes you have to go through these. They are hard times and hopefully there is some light at the end of the tunnel.
Aiden Markram about South Africa's poor bilateral record this year

“It was always a challenge playing against South Africa, be it in the T20 World Cup or a bilateral tournament. The last time we were here we had a good series. Hopefully we’ll have a game.” [tomorrow]; We missed the game here last time. But yeah, it’s always fun and challenging and both sides enjoy this great competition.”
Suryakumar Yadav about the first game against South Africa since the T20 World Cup final

Hemant Brar is an editor at ESPNcricinfo

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