Indian Cricketers, Head Coach Gautam Gambhir Visit Srimandir ahead of 1st T20I Against South Africa

Puri: On the eve of the first T20I against South Africa, members of the Indian cricket team, along with head coach Gautam Gambhir, visited the sacred Lord Jagannath Temple in Puri on Tuesday to seek divine blessings. The series opener of the five-match T20I contest will be played later in the day at Barabati Stadium, Cuttack. Team India’s T20I captain Suryakumar Yadav, accompanied by his wife Devisha Shetty, along with Tilak Varma, were among the players who offered prayers at the shrine. The team entered the temple premises under tight security as thousands of devotees gathered to catch a glimpse of the players. The visit comes as both India and South Africa gear up for the T20I leg of the tour, following an intense Test and ODI series. South Africa claimed the Test series 2-0, but India bounced back strongly in the ODIs, winning the series 2-1 with the return of senior stars Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. India will be bolstered by the comeback of Shubman Gill, who missed the earlier matches due to a neck injury, along with all-rounder Hardik Pandya. Pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah, rested during the ODIs, also returns to strengthen the squad. South Africa, on the other hand, arrive with a full-strength unit. Veteran batter David Miller rejoins the side, while fast bowler Anrich Nortje is also set for action. With the IPL auction scheduled for December 16, several Proteas players will be keen to make a mark. This match marks the first T20I clash between the two sides since the thrilling 2024 T20 World Cup final, where India secured a memorable seven-run victory.