The Indian T20I team will be looking to assert their dominance in the first T20I against South Africa on Tuesday, after their recent whitewash in the Test series. With an unstoppable record since winning the 2024 World Cup, the team's powerful hitters like Abhishek Sharma and Hardik Pandya have caught the world's attention. However, the upcoming T20I series presents an opportunity for some changes in the team, including the inclusion of Shubman Gill and the return of Sanju Samson to the middle-order. Stay updated with real-time live scores of all the action.
Actress-model Mahieka Sharma, who is in a relationship with cricketer Hardik Pandya, took to Instagram to congratulate her boyfriend on his major feat in T20I cricket. The duo has been in the news for their romance, with Mahieka often sharing photos and posts of the couple on her social media. However, Hardik recently took to his Instagram to express his anger towards media for clicking photos of Mahieka from inappropriate angles, calling for basic respect and boundaries towards women. Mahieka, on the other hand, hailed her boyfriend's achievement in the T20I match against South Africa and posted his stills with a sweet caption.
Indian cricket team's fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah achieved a massive feat in the history of T20I cricket. He became the second Indian bowler, after Arshdeep Singh, to take 100 wickets in the shortest format of the game. Bumrah achieved this milestone in the first T20I of the five-match series against South Africa, and also became the first Indian bowler to take 100+ wickets in all three formats. His heroics with the bat also helped India secure a commanding win of 101 runs, as they went 1-0 up in the series.
Rising Indian cricket star, Yashasvi Jaiswal, has been making waves in the world of cricket with his impressive performance in ODIs and T20Is. Despite facing tough competition in the Indian team, Jaiswal's dream is to play in the upcoming T20 World Cup. The 23-year-old also expressed his desire to lead the Indian team in the future. With his IPL franchise, Rajasthan Royals in need of a new captain, Jaiswal is a strong candidate for the position.
After taking a hiatus from professional hockey due to mental health reasons, Dillon Dube has been signed to a professional tryout with the St. Louis Blues' AHL affiliate, the Springfield Thunderbirds. This decision follows a comprehensive review of his case and discussions throughout the organization. Dube's return to the rink comes after being one of five players from Canada's 2018 World Junior team charged with sexual assault.
South Africa's captain, Quinton de Kock, put on a masterclass performance, scoring 90 runs off just 46 balls to lead his team to a formidable total of 213/4 against India. In response, India's top-order failed to deliver, with Shubman Gill, Abhishek Sharma, and Suryakumar Yadav all departing within the powerplay. Despite a valiant effort from Tilak Varma (62 off 34), India fell to a 51-run defeat, with South Africa leveling the series at 1-1.
Indian cricketer Abhishek Sharma made history on Thursday when he became just the second player from a full-member nation to hit 50 or more sixes in T20Is in a calendar year. With this feat, he joined the likes of Suryakumar Yadav, who achieved the feat in 2022. Overall, Austrian batter Karanbir Singh holds the record for hitting the most sixes in a calendar year in T20Is in 2025, with five batters scoring at least 50 sixes in the same year.
The first T20I between India and South Africa saw the return of players like Shubman Gill and Hardik Pandya, but hard-hitting finisher Rinku Singh didn't make the squad. This was a surprise for many as he was a regular face in the middle-order. South Africa captain Aiden Markram won the toss and chose to bowl first, while India skipper Suryakumar Yadav shared his thoughts on the team's preparations for the upcoming T20 World Cup.
With India's loss in the second T20I against South Africa, skipper Suryakumar Yadav accepts that he and his deputy Shubman Gill failed to provide a solid start to the team. He emphasizes the need for other batters to step up and not rely solely on Abhishek Sharma. Despite the loss, the series stands at 1-1 with the third match to be held in Dharamsala on Sunday. Yadav also reflects on his own performance, admitting his responsibility in not batting deeper in the lineup.
As India takes on South Africa in the third T20I of the series, the struggling Shubman Gill may face the axe from the playing XI. In his place, Sanju Samson, who has previously opened for India in T20Is and is in good form, could make a comeback to the side. Another possible change in the lineup could see Harshit Rana replacing the expensive Arshdeep Singh, while Jitesh Sharma's spot in the team could also be up for review. The addition of Samson could also pave the way for either Washington Sundar or Kuldeep Yadav to join the team as a specialist bowler.