IND Vs RSA, 1st T20I: India Train Hard At Barabati Stadium On Match Eve

The Indian T20I squad did the hard yards in training on Monday (December 8, 2025), ahead of the first game against South Africa at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack. Apart from captain Suryakumar Yadav and other T20I regulars like Abhishek Sharma and Tilak Varma, vice-captain Shubman Gill was seen practising at the ground, where he will make a comeback from injury. Having recovered from a neck spasm, Gill was cleared to play in the five-match series by the Centre of Excellence in Bengaluru. Also returning to the international fold is Hardik Pandya, who had suffered a quadriceps injury during the Asia Cup. He arrived a day ahead of the squad, trained solo at the Barabati Stadium, bowled for 20 minutes and went through an extended physical routine.

Updated on: 8 December 2025 7:27 pm

IND vs SA 1st T20 India training-Suryakumar Yadav, Shubman Gill

India’s captain Suryakumar Yadav, right, with Shubman Gill, left, and Abhishek Sharma during a training session on the eve of the first T20 cricket match of a series between India and South Africa, at Barabati Stadium, in Cuttack, Odisha. | Photo: PTI/Shailendra Bhojak

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IND vs SA 1st T20 India training- Shubman Gill, Abhishek Sharma

India’s Shubman Gill, left, and Abhishek Sharma during a training session on the eve of the first T20 cricket match of a series between India and South Africa, at Barabati Stadium, in Cuttack, Odisha. | Photo: PTI/Shailendra Bhojak

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IND vs SA 1st T20 India training-Suryakumar Yadav

India’s captain Suryakumar Yadav, third left, with his teammates during a training session on the eve of the first T20 cricket match of a series between India and South Africa, at Barabati Stadium, in Cuttack, Odisha. | Photo: PTI/Shailendra Bhojak

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India’s captain Suryakumar Yadav, left, during a training session on the eve of the first T20 cricket match of a series between India and South Africa, at Barabati Stadium, in Cuttack, Odisha. | Photo: PTI/Shailendra Bhojak

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IND vs SA 1st T20 India training-Shubman Gill

India's Shubman Gill during a practice session on the eve of the first T20 cricket match of a series between India and South Africa, at Barabati Stadium, in Cuttack, Odisha. | Photo: PTI/Shailendra Bhojak

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IND vs SA 1st T20 India training-India’s captain Suryakumar Yadav

India’s captain Suryakumar Yadav during a practice session on the eve of the first T20 cricket match of a series between India and South Africa, at Barabati Stadium, in Cuttack, Odisha. | Photo: PTI/Shailendra Bhojak

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IND vs SA 1st T20 India training-Axar Patel

India’s Axar Patel, left, and Abhishek Sharma during a practice session on the eve of the first T20 cricket match of a series between India and South Africa, at Barabati Stadium, in Cuttack, Odisha. | Photo: PTI/Shailendra Bhojak

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IND vs SA 1st T20 India training-Varun Chakaravarthy

India’s Varun Chakaravarthy, center, Axar Patel, left, and Abhishek Sharma during a practice session on the eve of the first T20 cricket match of a series between India and South Africa, at Barabati Stadium, in Cuttack, Odisha. | Photo: PTI/Shailendra Bhojak

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Indian team during a training session on the eve of the first T20 cricket match of a series between India and South Africa, at Barabati Stadium, in Cuttack, Odisha. | Photo: PTI/Shailendra Bhojak

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IND vs SA 1st T20 India training-Jasprit Bumrah,

India's Jasprit Bumrah, center, Arshdeep Singh, right, and Shivam Dube during a practice session on the eve of the first T20 cricket match of a series between India and South Africa, at Barabati Stadium, in Cuttack, Odisha. | Photo: PTI/Shailendra Bhojak

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