India v/s South Africa 1st T20: Time, teams, online live streaming and where to watch on TV

India will be looking repeat the success of the ODI series as they take South Africa in a three-match T20 series, starting Sunday. 

Having created history by thrashing South Africa 5-1 in the ODI series, Virat Kohli and his men will be looking to carry the same momentum and intensity going into the shortest format, with veteran Suresh Raina under the spotlight as he makes a comeback into the national team after one year.

The defeat in the Test series now seems to be a story of a distant past and India will begin as overwhelming favourites with spin twins Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal ready to torment the opposition all over again.

Raina, KL Rahul and Jaydev Unadkat are the new additions to the Indian contingent here for this T20 series. 

Raina’s return is the most intriguing aspect of the T20 series from an Indian point of view. He hasn’t played ODI cricket since 2015, and last featured in a T20I series twelve months ago against England. He scored 104 runs in three matches, inclusive of a half-century, but didn’t bowl enough overs.

It is easy to assume that Raina will walk back into the playing XI and his performances will be keenly noted, given that India will also play a T20I tri-series in Sri Lanka later in March.

Unadkat is the other player to watch here. Since New Zealand’s trip in October, India have featured a left-arm pacer in their T20 eleven in four out of six matches. After Ashish Nehra retired, Unadkat was called up when Kumar was rested against Sri Lanka.

It will be interesting to see what is India’s first-choice pace attack with all three – Unadkat, Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah – available for selection. Shardul Thakur, who picked a career-best 4/52 in the sixth ODI, cannot be ignored either.
Hardik Pandya and the two wrist-spinners are a virtual certainty in the playing XI.

Regarding the batting line-up, the only question mark is over Rahul’s inclusion. Rohit Sharma cannot be left out, and Shikhar Dhawan has enjoyed a good run in the ODI series.

Teams:

India: Virat Kohli (capt), Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Suresh Raina, Shreyas Iyer, Manish Pandey, Dinesh Karthik, MS Dhoni (wk), Hardik Pandya, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Jaydev Unadkat, Shardul Thakur.

South Africa: JP Duminy (capt), Farhaan Behardien, Junior Dala, AB de Villiers, Reeza Hendricks, Christiaan Jonker, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Chris Morris, Dane Paterson, Aaron Phangiso, Andile Phehlukwayo, Tabraiz Shamsi, Jon-Jon Smuts.

Here's all you need to know about the India v/s South Africa 1st T20I match:

When will India v/s South Africa 1st T20I be played?

The India v/s South Africa 1st T20I will be played on February 18.

Where will the India v/s South Africa 1st T20I be played?

The India v/s South Africa 1st T20I will be played at New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg.

Where to watch India v/s South Africa 1st T20I live?

The India v/s South Africa 1st T20I will be live on Sony Ten Network and SonyLiv.

What time does the live coverage of the India v/s South Africa 1st T20I start?

The India v/s South Africa 1st T20I will start at 6:00 pm IST.

India v/s South Africa 1st T20I where to watch on TV? 

The India v/s South Africa 1st T20I will be live on Sony Ten 1 and Sony Ten 1 HD.

Where to watch India v/s South Africa 1st T20I live streaming online? 

The India v/s South Africa 1st T20I can be streamed online on Sony LIV App and its website SonyLiv.com. 

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