South Africa won the toss and opted to bowl first in the opening T20I against India at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack. With dew expected to play a major role later in the evening, skipper Aiden Markram backed his bowlers to make early inroads under favourable conditions.
“We’re going to bowl first. Quite a bit of dew around, might be a constant throughout the game but might get a bit worse later,” Markram said at the toss. He added that mentally adjusting to conditions will be crucial in a high-stakes series that serves as preparation for next year’s World Cup.
Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav admitted there was some uncertainty while assessing the pitch earlier. “We were a little confused looking at the wicket, it was looking a bit greener yesterday,” he said. “But happy to bat first, want to make the most of it and defend. It becomes a little challenging for the bowlers, but let’s not think about it too much—have it as a challenge.”
Suryakumar also highlighted India’s packed schedule as valuable preparation ahead of global competitions. “We had a good series in Australia, now we play against South Africa and then New Zealand. It’s good preparation. Want to enjoy it,” he added.
India will now look to set a competitive total on what appears to be a fresh surface, while South Africa aim to capitalize on early conditions with the ball.
