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India vs South Africa game 1 (9/12/25): Where to watch, game timing, location, players and more
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India vs South Africa game 1 (9/12/25): Where to watch, game timing, location, players and more

DB

Dherandra Bisht

Modified 13 December 2025 at 12:57 AM IST -3 min read

The first T20I is happening at Barabati Stadium in Cuttack, Odisha, a historic site recognized for its vibrant crowds and pitches that favor fast bowlers at the start but become more spinner-friendly as the game progresses. Opened in 1958, the stadium has hosted unforgettable matches, including India’s ODI triumph over Australia in 2013. Toss is at 6:30 PM IST, with the match starting at 7:00 PM IST (1:30 PM GMT).

The weather forecast shows clear skies with temperatures hitting about 25°C (77°F) at the start, dropping to 20°C (68°F) by the end of the game, and no rain delays are anticipated. According to curator Dibyajyoti Mohapatra in a BCCI update, the Barabati pitch will provide “true bounce for the first 10 overs” before it starts to slow down, which could result in a par score of 160-170.

Where to watch India vs South Africa game 1

Fans in India can catch the action live on television and online platforms, ensuring wide accessibility.

In India

  • TV Broadcast: Star Sports Network (including Star Sports 1 HD/SD and Star Sports Select channels) will kick off coverage at 6:00 PM IST, featuring pre-match insights from experts such as Ravi Shastri and Harsha Bhogle.
  • Live Streaming: The JioHotstar app and website provide commentary in multiple languages (Hindi, English, Tamil, Telugu) along with live stats. According to Hotstar’s official announcement, the platform saw more than 100 million views for the ODI series finale.

International options

For global audiences:

  • USA/Canada: Willow TV on cable; stream via FuboTV, starting at 9:30 AM ET.
  • UK: Sky Sports Cricket; streaming on Now TV.
  • Australia: Fox Cricket; Kayo Sports app.
  • South Africa: SuperSport channels; streaming on SuperSport app.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) confirmed these details in their official announcement about the tour schedule.

India vs South Africa: Squads and predicted playing XIs

Both teams revealed their 15-member squads, mixing World Cup contenders with up-and-coming players. India’s team welcomes back Hardik Pandya and Jasprit Bumrah, boosting their all-round and pace capabilities.

India Squad

  • Captain: Suryakumar Yadav
  • Full Squad: Suryakumar Yadav (c), Shubman Gill (vc), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Sanju Samson (wk), Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakaravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Washington Sundar.

Predicted XI: Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Jasprit Bumrah, Arshdeep Singh.

South Africa Squad

  • Captain: Aiden Markram
  • Full Squad: Aiden Markram (c), Dewald Brevis, Tony de Zorzi, Reeza Hendricks, David Miller, George Linde, Corbin Bosch, Marco Jansen, Quinton de Kock (wk), Donovan Ferreira (wk), Tristan Stubbs, Ottneil Baartman, Keshav Maharaj, Kwena Maphaka, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje.

Predicted XI: Quinton de Kock (wk), Reeza Hendricks, Aiden Markram (c), David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Dewald Brevis, Marco Jansen, George Linde, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje.

Dherandra Bisht

Dherandra is a College Football writer at Sports League Season. An athlete-turned-writer, he brings on-field perspective to his coverage, highlighting the energy, rivalries, and culture that define campus football. His reporting emphasizes quick-turn updates and nuanced storytelling, connecting directly with engaged fans. Dherandra believes the vibrant atmosphere at college football games fosters community and is central to the sport’s growth in America.

View all articles by Dherandra Bisht

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