India is gearing up to take on South Africa in a five-match T20I series, kicking off with the first match at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack on Tuesday, December 9. South Africa won the toss and chose to bowl first. The Proteas had a strong showing in the Test series, winning 2-0, while India made a comeback with a 2-1 victory in the three-match ODI series. With both teams trading momentum, they’ll be eager to end the tour on a high note as the T20I series begins. In a surprising move, India has left out Sanju Samson from their playing XI for the first T20I, opting for Jitesh Sharma as the wicketkeeper instead. Kuldeep Yadav, Washington Sundar, and Harshit Rana also didn’t make the cut for this opening match. On the other hand, South Africa is coming in with a pace-heavy lineup, featuring four fast bowlers. Here is what Indian skipper said: We were a little confused looking at the wicket, it was looking a bit greener yesterday. Happy to bat first, want to make the most of it and defend. It (dew) becomes a little challenging for the bowlers, it is going to remain for a really long time. Let's not think about it, have it as a challenge. We had a good series in Australia, now we play against South Africa and then against New Zealand. It's good preparation. Want to enjoy it. It's a good headache to have. The guys missing out are Sanju Samson, Kuldeep Yadav, Washington Sundar and Harshit Rana. Also Read | 4 Ashes 2025-26 Players Who Could Earn Big at the IPL 2026 Auction Sanju Samson has quickly become one of India’s most exciting talents in white-ball cricket. In T20Is, he has racked up 995 runs at an impressive strike rate of 147.40, proving he can shine under pressure and finish games strong. Despite his solid performances, he often finds himself overlooked in favor of players like Shubman Gill, who are still trying to make their mark in limited-overs cricket. Samson truly deserves more playing time, as his skills and track record clearly show he can strengthen India’s middle order and make a real difference in every match. India's playing 11 vs South Africa Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav(c), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Jitesh Sharma(w), Axar Patel, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy, Arshdeep Singh