Shubman Gill set to return after neck injury:Hardik, Bumrah back in Indian Blues; India eye 19th T20I series win against South Africa

After the 2-1 victory over South Africa in the three-match ODI series, Team India is now set to take on the challenges for the five-match T20I series under the captaincy of Suryakumar Yadav ahead of the T20I World Cup 2026. Shubman Gill, Jasprit Bumrah and Hardik Pandya return to the Indian side for the T20I series against the visiting South Africa. The five-match T20I series starts on December 9 at Cuttack. Before the T20I series, Team India lost the two-match Test series in Kolkata and Guwahati at home soil. Thereafter, the world saw vintage Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma in the ODI series, as Kohli bagged the Player of the Series with two centuries and one half-century in Vizag. Ahead of the Cuttack T20I match, a ticket rush turns chaotic as fans push sprint outside the Barabati Stadium. The situation grew tense within minutes of the ticket counters opening. The large crowd surged forward, ignoring queue lines and security instructions. Many fans were seen shouting, stumbling and cutting in from the sides to get ahead. The massive rush quickly became unmanageable, raising concerns about public safety. IND vs SA, 1st T20I, match details Date Time: 09 December, 07:00 PM Venue: Barabati Stadium, Cuttack Live Streaming: Jio Hotstar Live Telecast: Star Sports Network Latest News updates: Bhaskar English (App/Website) IND vs SA head-to-head in T20Is India and South Africa have met 31 times in T20I cricket. India hold the edge with 18 wins, while South Africa have claimed victory in 12 matches while a solitary match ended without a result. Shubman Gill declared fit for the T20I series against South Africa India’s Test and ODI captain Shubman Gill has received full fitness clearance and is now available for selection in all formats. He completed his rehabilitation program at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE), marking an important step in his return to competitive cricket. “Shubman Gill has successfully completed his rehabilitation at CoE and has met the requisite criteria to be declared fit for all formats of the game,” a communication from the CoE has gone to the team management’s Sports Science and Medicine (SSM) team, comprising physio Kamlesh Jain, strength and conditioning coach Adrian Le Roux and sports doctor Dr Charles. Passion for cricket continues in Cuttack – ‘Cricket for VIPs, chaos for the people’ Cricket fever dramatically returned to Cuttack on Friday as thousands of fans gathered outside Barabati Stadium for offline tickets to the first T20I between India and South Africa. What started as a regular sale soon turned into complete chaos. A viral video from the scene showed supporters pushing, running and squeezing through narrow gaps in a desperate attempt to secure match tickets. The situation grew tense within minutes of the ticket counters opening. The large crowd surged forward, ignoring queue lines and security instructions. Many fans were seen shouting, stumbling and cutting in from the sides to get ahead. The massive rush quickly became unmanageable, raising concerns about public safety. Barabati Stadium pitch report Barabati Stadium in Cuttack offers a batting-friendly pitch, ideal for high-scoring games. The surface favours batters early on, helping teams set big totals, while chasing also remains easier due to consistent batting conditions. Bowlers may face challenges as the match progresses, making the venue well-known for exciting, run-filled encounters. Cuttack weather report The weather today is expected to remain pleasant and comfortable. The temperature is around 27°C, with humidity at 53%, offering a moderately dry feel. There is only a 10% chance of precipitation, so rainfall is unlikely throughout the day. Winds will be light, blowing at 8 km/h in Cuttack.