South Africa vs India – T20 Series: Timings, Teams, H2H, News | Cricket news

Follow Al Jazeera’s live coverage of the first T20 here.

The wounds of a painful loss at the ICC T20 World Cup final will still be fresh for South Africa when they face their conquerors India in a four-match T20 series at home starting on Friday.

More than four months may have passed since India’s comeback victory that sealed their second World T20 title in Barbados, but the South African team will be hurt to have let go of what could have been their first ICC World Cup trophy .

A lot has changed since June 29, when a number of Indian stalwarts left the game’s shortest format, and the champions continue a near-perfect winning streak in T20 internationals under new captain Suryakumar Yadav.

Amid the loss of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli and Ravindra Jadeja to retirement, as well as the absence of Jasprit Bumrah and Rishabh Pant due to Test cricket duties, India’s next generation of players have made their name in the three T20 series since July.

Meanwhile, South Africa have had a poor run in their two series since the final, losing all three matches away to the West Indies and one against Ireland.

The Proteas have also fielded a number of fresh faces in their recent limited-overs series, but Aiden Markram remains their T20 captain.

Both teams and indeed all top nations around the world will be looking to rebuild for the next T20 World Cup which is just over a year away.

The world champions will get a chance to defend their title at home in the February-March ICC T20 World Cup 2026 to be played in India and Sri Lanka.

For now, however, the focus will be on South Africa’s ability to bounce back from a string of poor results and whether India can continue their hot streak away from home.

What is the full match schedule for India-South Africa T20 series?

• Match 1: Friday 8 November at 17:00 (15:00 GMT) at Kingsmead, Durban
• Match 2: Sunday 10 November at 4pm (2pm GMT) at St George’s Park, Gqeberha
• Match 3: Wednesday 13 November at 5pm (3pm GMT) at SuperSport Park, Centurion
• Match 4: Friday 15 November at 17:00 (15:00 GMT) at The Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg

India vs South Africa: T20 head-to-head record

The 27 T20 encounters between the two teams have been almost even, with India winning 15 matches – including the World Cup final – and South Africa 11. One match ended in a “no result” due to a washout.

Both teams won a match each when the Proteas last hosted India in a bilateral T20 series in December.

Form guide: South Africa

The hosts’ fortunes in the T20 format have taken a hit since the June 29 final loss in Barbados, as they have won just one of their five T20 internationals.

Last five results: LWLLL

Form guide: India

The world champions are on a 10-match winning streak in the T20 format, with a shock away loss to Zimbabwe in July the only blemish on their 23-match record in 2024.

Last five results: WWWWW

How can I follow South Africa vs India T20 series?

Al Jazeera’s live text and photo coverage of each match begins three hours before kick-off. Game 1 can be seen here.

Team news: South Africa

Markram continues to lead the team as they look to rebuild ahead of the next T20 World Cup without formidable top-order batsman-wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock, who hung up his boots in June.

Fast bowling duo Gerald Coetzee and Marco Jansen have returned to the squad after injury layoffs with Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj and David Miller also back but Kagiso Rabada has been rested.

All-rounder Mihlali Mpongwana, 24, has received his maiden call-up.

The Proteas have plenty of power hitters including Rassie van der Dussen, Heinrich Klaasen and Tristan Stubbs.

Team: Aiden Markram (captain), Reeza Hendricks, Ryan Rickelton (wicketkeeper), Heinrich Klaasen, Tristan Stubbs, Rassie van der Dussen, Gerald Coetzee, Donovan Ferreira, Keshav Maharaj, David Miller, Marco Jansen, Mihlali Mpongwana, Nqaba Peter, Andile Simelane, Lutho Sipamla, Tristan Stubbs

Team News: India

India are all set to give debuts to ramandeep Singh as well as pacers Vijaykumar Vyshak and Yash Dayal.

Three players – Riyan Parag, Mayank Yadav and Shivam Dube – who were part of the home T20 series against Bangladesh are out due to injuries.

Team: Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wicketkeeper), Rinku Singh, Tilak Varma, Jitesh Sharma (wicketkeeper), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Ramandeep Singh, Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Vijaykumar, Avshy Khanshak, , Yash Dayal.