Bhubaneswar: Cricket fever is gripping the city as the highly-anticipated T20 match between India and South Africa is set to begin at the Barabati Stadium tonight. The stadium is buzzing with excitement, with fans eagerly waiting for the match to commence.
According to reports, Chief Minister Mohan Charan Majhi will be the chief guest and will ring the ceremonial bell at 7 pm, signaling the start of the match. The first T20 match of the 5-match series between India and South Africa will be played on Tuesday. After losing the Test series, India bounced back with a 3-0 win in the ODI series, and the team led by Suryakumar Yadav aims to continue the winning streak in the T20 series.
Suryakumar Yadav emphasized that the team is focused on giving its best in each match, regardless of the conditions or the toss result. “We can’t control the dew or the toss, but we can control our performance, and that’s what we’re focusing on,” he said.
South Africa, led by Aiden Markram, is known for its balanced team, featuring explosive batsmen like David Miller, Markram, and Quinton de Kock, and talented bowlers like Anrich Nortje and Marco Jansen.
It is learnt that India and South Africa have faced each other twice before at Barabati Stadium in T20 matches, with South Africa winning both encounters. The hosts are keen to break this trend and start the series on a winning note.
The pitch is prepared to favour both batting and bowling, with a red soil surface expected to aid the bowlers. The match is likely to be a high-scoring one, with both teams looking to put up a strong show.
The stadium will witness a sea of colours, with 42,000 fans cheering on their favourite teams. The match promises to be an exciting one, with the South African team looking to make a mark in the series.
The match is the fourth T20 international to be played at the Barabati Stadium, and the first one on a red soil pitch. The stadium has been prepared with state-of-the-art facilities, and the fans are eagerly awaiting the start of the match.
