Big picture: Rematch of T20 World Cup final
In one way, Friday's T20I between South Africa and India is a grudge match. The last time these two sides met was in Barbados, in the 2024 T20 World Cup final. India had no business winning that match when South Africa needed 30 off 30 balls with six wickets in hand. But Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya and Co snatched the win, and the trophy, from South Africa's grasp, leaving them heartbroken.
In another way, it is not. Many protagonists of that final will not be in action in this series. From India's XI for the final, only four - Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya Axar Patel and Arshdeep Singh - are part of the current squad. South Africa, too, are without Quinton de Kock, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje and Tabraiz Shamsi.
Therefore, this four-match series might look inconsequential. But don't forget, the next T20 World Cup is only 15 months away, and the teams have already started preparing for it.
India recently faced a shock whitewash at home at the hands of New Zealand, but that was in Test cricket. Their T20I side, which has never been more different from their Test team, is coming on the back of a thumping 3-0 series win against Bangladesh. Continuing their attacking template from the World Cup, they posted a gigantic 297 for 6 in their most recent T20I.
South Africa are yet to recover from their defeat in the final. Since then, they have lost 3-0 to West Indies and drew 1-1 against Ireland in the format. Playing 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 only once in 14 T20I innings this year. His tally in the format is 201, at an average of 16.75 and a strike rate of 118.23. This is in complete contrast to his career numbers: average 32.17, strike rate 144.62. On the eve of the first T20I against India, he said he was in a good space mentally. Both he and South Africa would want that to be converted into runs.
A couple of freak hand injuries earlier this year had put Tilak Varma's career on hold. While he is back in the mix now, the competition has got intense. He was drafted in for the Bangladesh T20Is as an injury replacement for Shivam Dube but did not get a match. After that, he led India at the Emerging Asia Cup in Oman where his returns were unglamorous: 117 runs in four innings at a strike rate of 120.61. Can he step up against a much tougher opponent?
Team news: Debuts for Simelane and Ramandeep?
South Africa could hand a debut to allrounder Andile Simelane. Simelane plays his domestic cricket at Kingsmead, which could come in handy.
South Africa (probable): 1 Reeza Hendricks, 2 Ryan Rickelton (wk), 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 are likely to hand batting allrounder Ramandeep Singh his T20I cap. Axar Patel should also get a chance after warming the bench during the New Zealand 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
Pitch and conditions: Runs 'n Rains
South Africa do not have happy memories of Durban. Last year, Australia whitewashed them in a series of three T20Is, all played at this 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 were supposed to play a T20I here, in December 2023, rain did not allow even the toss.
Stats and trivia: Suryakumar's strike rate
India have a strong head-to-head record against South Africa in South Africa: six wins and three losses in nine T20Is.
Among those who have scored at least 1000 T20I runs, Suryakumar has the highest strike rate (169.48).
Arshdeep Singh is India's leading wicket-taker in T20Is this year, with 28 scalps in 14 games.
In nine T20I innings against India, Heinrich Klaasen has three half-centuries and a strike rate of 168.09.
Quotes
"It has been a testing few months now. Obviously, we have addressed the reasons behind it, growth opportunities, things that are going to make cricketers better in South Africa over a long period of time. But as a captain, it hurts your pride and I have got a lot of pride wearing this badge and want to carry it forward and want to win games and win series for South Africa. But you lock into the bigger picture, you lock into how much it is going to help cricket in South Africa moving forward. Sometimes you have to go through these tough times and hopefully there will be some light at the end of the tunnel."
Aiden Markram on South Africa's poor bilateral record this year
"It has always been challenging playing against South Africa, be it in the T20 World Cup or any bilateral. The last time when we were here, we had a good series. Hopefully, we will have a game [tomorrow]; last time we missed out on the game here. But yeah, it's always fun and challenging and both sides enjoy having that great competition."
Suryakumar Yadav on playing South Africa for the first time since the T20 World Cup final
