A break from cricket? That’s certainly not on the agenda of Team India as they fly southwest to the shores of South Africa for their final assignment of an eventful 2023 calendar year.

India, for starters, got even with Australia for the CWC2023 final heart-break with a 4-1 rout in the recently-concluded T20I series. The result, a morale boost to the dressing room and Indian cricket fans, meant the Men in Blue got their Road to the 2024 T20 World Cup off to a positive start.

On the other hand, South Africa - like India - will play the white-ball series without their top frontline stars. However, the addition of some star performers in local domestic tournaments into the Proteas’ senior team could be a welcome challenge for the visitors, if not a party spoiler.

What: South Africa vs India, white-ball series

When:

1st T20I - December 10; 2nd T20I - December 12; 3rd T20I - December 14

1st ODI - December 17; 2nd ODI - December 19; 3rd ODI - December 21

Where:

1st T20I - Durban; 2nd T20I - Gqeberha; 3rd T20I - Johannesburg

1st ODI - Johannesburg; 2nd ODI - Gqeberha; 3rd ODI - Paarl

What to expect: Remember, it's only the second SAvIND T20I series (two or more matches) on Proteas soil, a land where India kickstarted their T20I campaign back in 2006. Be prepared for a talent show from new and returning players for both teams, a different Indian captain for T20I series (SKY) and ODIs (KL Rahul) and India sweeping the white-ball series in style.

What you need to do: Recall the same energy used to empower the Men in Blue at CWC23, and keep your temperature meters, mantras, etc., ready, which will keep you charged up to cheer on Team India. For the Paltan in South Africa, ensure you stay safe amidst being the 12th man in the respective venues for our boys!

South Africa vs India: Numbers Talk

Squads

India:

T20Is - Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Rinku Singh, Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan (wicket-keeper), Jitesh Sharma (wicket-keeper), Ravindra Jadeja (vice-captain), Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Deepak Chahar.

ODIs -  Ruturaj Gaikwad, Sai Sudharsan, Tilak Varma, Rajat Patidar, Rinku Singh, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (captain and wicket-keeper), Sanju Samson (wicket-keeper), Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mukesh Kumar, Avesh Khan, Arshdeep Singh, Deepak Chahar.

South Africa:

T20Is - Aiden Markram (captain), Ottniel Baartman, Matthew Breetzke, Nandre Burger, Gerald Coetzee (1st and 2nd T20Is), Donovan Ferreira, Reeza Hendricks, Marco Jansen (1st and 2nd T20Is), Heinrich Klaasen (wicket-keeper), Keshav Maharaj, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi (1st and 2nd T20Is), Andile Phehlukwayo, Tabraiz Shamsi, Tristan Stubbs (wicket-keeper), Lizaad Williams

ODIs - Aiden Markram (captain), Ottniel Baartman, Nandre Burger, Tony de Zorzi, Reeza Hendricks, Heinrich Klaasen (wicket-keeper), Keshav Maharaj, Mihlali Mpongwana, David Miller, Wiaan Mulder, Andile Phehlukwayo, Tabraiz Shamsi, Rassie van der Dussen, Kyle Verreynne (wicket-keeper), Lizaad Williams