Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel Eye Historic Records as India Chase T20I Series Win vs South Africa

India will look to extend their dominance in the shortest format when they face South Africa in a five-match T20I series beginning December 9 in Cuttack. The hosts enter the contest with renewed confidence after a strong comeback in the ODI leg, where Yashasvi Jaiswal’s unbeaten 116 and Virat Kohli’s fluent 65 sealed a convincing nine-wicket win in the decisive match at Visakhapatnam.

The ODI victory helped India regain momentum following a disappointing 2–0 Test series defeat. Kuldeep Yadav and Prasidh Krishna played crucial roles with the ball, restricting South Africa to 270 under pressure.

India now shift their focus to T20Is, where they have not lost a bilateral series since August 2023. Since the 2–3 defeat to the West Indies, the team has won nine T20I series and drawn one, making them one of the most consistent white-ball sides globally.

With a well-rounded squad, home advantage and a solid run of form, India will aim to continue their winning streak while several players eye historic personal milestones.

Key Milestones to Watch in IND vs SA T20I Series

Suryakumar Yadav

• Needs 246 runs to become the third Indian after Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli to score 3000 T20I runs.

• Needs 59 runs to reach 9000 runs in T20 cricket.

• Needs 6 sixes to complete 400 sixes in T20s, a feat achieved by only Kohli and Rohit among Indians.

Shubman Gill

• Needs 163 runs to complete 1000 T20I runs.

Tilak Varma

• Needs 4 runs to reach 1000 T20 runs; could become the fourth-fastest Indian to achieve the landmark.

Hardik Pandya

• Needs 2 wickets to complete 100 T20I wickets, joining Arshdeep Singh.

  

• If he scores 140 runs and takes 2 wickets, he will become the first Indian and fourth cricketer overall to achieve 2000 runs + 100 wickets in T20Is.

Axar Patel

• Needs 47 runs to become the first Indian with 3500+ runs and 250+ wickets in T20s.

Sanju Samson

• Needs 5 runs to reach 1000 Men’s T20 runs.

• Needs 4 runs to become the sixth Indian with 8000 T20 runs.

Jasprit Bumrah

• Needs 1 wicket to reach 100 T20I wickets.

Varun Chakravarthy

• Needs 5 wickets for 50 T20I wickets; could become the fastest Indian to reach the mark if achieved in the next match.

Kuldeep Yadav

• Needs 12 wickets to reach 100 T20I wickets.

• Also has a chance to break Rashid Khan’s record (53 matches) to become the fastest bowler to 100 T20I wickets.

With the series promising high-quality competition and multiple historic milestones, India will hope to convert individual brilliance into another bilateral T20I triumph.