Fri Nov 08 02:45:38 UTC 2024: ## India Set to Face South Africa in First T20 Match, Seeking to Win Series
**JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA** – The Indian Cricket Team, led by Suryakumar Yadav, will kick off a four-match T20 series against South Africa on November 8th. The series marks the first T20 encounter between the two sides since the 2024 T20 World Cup final.
India, aiming for a hat-trick of T20 series wins after conquering Sri Lanka and Bangladesh, will look to dominate in South Africa despite the absence of head coach Gautam Gambhir, who is currently managing the Indian team in Australia.
The Proteas, however, will be aiming for a strong performance after a disappointing T20 World Cup and subsequent series losses to the West Indies and a draw with Ireland. The home ground advantage could prove crucial for South Africa.
India has included Ramandeep Singh, a rising star from IPL 2024, in the squad for the tour. He is likely to make his T20 debut in the series.
**Predicted Playing Elevens:**
**India:** Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Ramandeep Singh, Axar Patel, Varun Chakravarthy/Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Avesh Khan.
**South Africa:** Aiden Markram (c), Reeza Hendricks, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Heinrich Klaasen (wk), David Miller, Donovan Ferreira, Marco Jansen, Gerald Coetzee, Ottniel Baartman, Lungi Ngidi.
**Focus on the Series:**
The first match promises to be a thrilling clash, with India determined to start strong and South Africa eager to prove themselves on home soil. The series will be a crucial test for both teams, as they prepare for upcoming international tournaments.
Meanwhile, former BJP leader Poonam Mahajan has called for a re-investigation into her father’s murder, claiming that a conspiracy was involved. She plans to write to Home Minister Amit Shah and Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis to demand a thorough investigation.
First Piper 