IND vs SA 2025: Jasprit Bumrah just one wicket away from joining elite T20I club

As India and South Africa set to lock horns in the first T20I of the five-match series in Cuttack, all eyes are on ace pacer Jasprit Bumrah. Returning to action after being rested for the ODIs, the Indian pace spearhead is on the verge of a historic milestone. Bumrah is one wicket away from entering the elite 100-wicket T20I club.

The South Africa tour has been mixed for India. The visitors stunned the hosts with a dominant Test series whitewash, before the hosts bounced back to claim the ODI series 2-1. Now, the series moves to the T20I leg, where both teams begin the final phase of the tour at Cuttack’s Barabati Stadium.

Meanwhile, Bumrah enters the series with 99 wickets from 80 T20Is at an average of 18.11. The right-arm pacer is set to become only the second Indian bowler, after Arshdeep Singh, to reach 100 wickets in T20Is. Arshdeep currently leads India’s list with 105 wickets, while Afghanistan’s Rashid Khan tops the global charts with 182.

India enters their 10-match preparation phase for ICC T20 World Cup

If Bumrah takes a wicket tonight, he will become the first Indian bowler ever to pick up 100 wickets in each of the three international formats, a record no Indian has achieved before. His Test tally stands at 234 wickets from 52 matches, while he has 149 from 89 ODIs. The 31-year-old is also inching close toward another feat of 500 international wickets. Currently on 482 scalps, he needs 18 more to join the list of Indian bowlers with 500 international wickets.

This T20I series also sees the beginning of India’s 10-match preparation phase before the ICC T20 World Cup 2026. With captain Suryakumar Yadav and coach Gautam Gambhir yet to lose a T20I series together, the upcoming T20I series is very important for the team's overall preparation. Notably, Shubman Gill returns after a neck injury, while Hardik Pandya is also returning after regaining full fitness.