India Women vs South Africa Women Highlights, 1st T20I: South Africa beat India by 6 wickets
THE TIMES OF INDIA | Apr 18, 2026, 01:06:48 IST
Comments
Share

India Women vs South Africa Women Highlights, 1st T20I: South Africa beat India by 6 wickets

South Africa Women vs India Women Live Score, 1st T20I: The stage is set in Durban as South Africa women's team chose to field after winning the toss against India women's team in the series opener, renewing a rivalry that hasn’t seen a T20I contest since mid-2024.

India arrive as one of the in-form sides in women’s T20 cricket, having put behind their World Cup disappointment with a string of dominant bilateral performances. Series wins in challenging overseas conditions, including England and Australia, have reinforced their credentials as strong contenders heading into the next global tournament. The addition of young talents like Kashvee Gautam and Anushka Sharma adds depth, though the team’s backbone remains its experienced core.

For South Africa, the narrative is more about regaining rhythm. Finalists in the last two T20 World Cups, they are coming off a difficult New Zealand tour that exposed inconsistencies in both departments. The absence of seasoned campaigners like Dane van Niekerk and Marizanne Kapp further tests their balance.

With minimal changes to the squad, South Africa are banking on continuity and home conditions to spark a turnaround, while India will look to extend their dominant run and assert early control in the series.
21:18 (IST) Apr 17
Hello and welcome to the live coverage of the first T20I between India women and South Africa Women in Durban
21:12 (IST) Apr 17

India Women (Playing XI) - Smriti Mandhana, Shafali Verma, Jemimah Rodrigues, Harmanpreet Kaur (C), Richa Ghosh (WK), Deepti Sharma, Arundhati Reddy, Kashvee Gautam, Shreyanka Patil, Sree Charani, Renuka Singh Thakur.

21:11 (IST) Apr 17

South Africa Women (Playing XI) - Laura Wolvaardt (C), Sune Luus, Tazmin Brits, Annerie Dercksen, Anneke Bosch, Chloe Tryon, Nadine De Klerk, Sinalo Jafta (WK), Ayabonga Khaka, Tumi Sekhukhune, Nonkululeko Mlaba.

South Africa Women vs India Women Live Score, 1st T20I: South Africa women's team won the toss and opted to field against India women's team in the opening T20I in Durban, marking the first meeting between the two sides in this format since July 2024. With conditions in Durban still under scrutiny, the decision to bowl first suggests South Africa are backing early assistance for their attack before assessing how the surface plays.

India enter the contest with strong momentum despite their disappointing exit from the 2024 T20 World Cup. The side has since bounced back impressively, clinching four consecutive bilateral T20I series, including notable wins in England and Australia. The squad blends experience with fresh faces, as Kashvee Gautam and Anushka Sharma earn their maiden call-ups, while the core remains largely settled.

South Africa, meanwhile, are looking to reset after a tough tour of New Zealand, where they lost both the T20I and ODI series. Despite being runners-up in the last two T20 World Cups, they have resisted major changes, with Tebogo Macheke and Eliz-Mari Marx the only new inclusions. With key players missing, the hosts will be keen to start strong at home.