South Africa vs India, 1st T20I: Stats Preview of Players' Records and Approaching Milestones

After defeating Australia by a margin of 4-1 (5) in the T20 international series, Team India now travel to South Africa for a full-fledged series. The Asian giants will be playing three T20Is, as many one-day internationals as well as a two-match Test series. The African tour begins with the shortest international format as both sides lock horns in the opening game on Sunday, December 10, at Kingsmead Stadium, in Durban. The second and the third matches are scheduled on December 12th and 14th in Gqeberha and Johannesburg, respectively. 

Speaking about the Australia series, opener Ruturaj Gaikwad led the batting chart as he was the highest run-getter in the series with 223 runs under his belt at an average of 56. The 26-year-old talented opening batter struck one century and one half-century across the five matches. Spin bowler Ravi Bishnoi won the Player of the Series award for his nine wickets at an average of 18.22. Courtesy of that, he has now become the no. 1 ranked T20I bowler in the ICC rankings.

Meanwhile, South Africa's last T20I assignment came in September against Australia at home, where they suffered a whitewash. The Rainbow Nation lost the three-match series 0-3 on the home soil. Aiden Markram and his new-looking SA side will be hoping to begin a new series with a victory in Durban. Suryakumar Yadav will continue to lead the Indian side in the absence of the regular skipper Rohit Sharma. Ravindra Jadeja, Shubman Gill, and Mohammed Siraj are back for the visitors in the T20I setup.

Meanwhile, here are some of the important stats and numbers ahead of the 1^st T20I between South Africa and India:

Head-to-Head: South Africa and India have met each other 24 times in T20 internationals with the Proteas winning on 10 occasions and the Men in Blue on 13. While one encounter has ended in no result.

15 - Suryakumar Yadav (1985) needs 15 runs to complete 2000 T20I runs.

1 - Ruturaj Gaikwad (49) needs one more four to complete 50 fours in T20I.

3 - Shubman Gill (47) requires three more catches to complete 50 catches in international cricket.

4 - Ravindra Jadeja (546) needs four wickets to complete 550 wickets across formats.

13 – Tilak Varma (1987) is 13 runs short of completing the milestone of 2000 runs in T20 matches.

5 - Washington Sundar (95) requires five wickets to complete 100 wickets in T20s.

6 - Aiden Markram (44) is six maximums away from completing 50 sixes in T20Is.

3 - David Miller (147) needs three fours to complete 150 fours in T20Is.