South Africa’s captain, Aiden Markram, and India’s skipper, Suryakumar Yadav, posed with the trophy ahead of their four-match T20 series, which kicks off today in Durban. This series offers a crucial opportunity for South African players to showcase their talent before the upcoming Indian Premier League (IPL) auction later this month.

According to Markram, the timing of the series couldn’t be better for South African cricketers. While many have already secured IPL contracts, those without deals can boost their chances by delivering strong performances against India. “It’s a great chance for players to shine just before the auction,” Markram said during a press conference. “If they do well, both as a team and individually, it could lead to more opportunities.”

Although representing their country is the main motivation for the players, the added benefit of catching the eye of IPL scouts is undeniable. The IPL has become one of the most lucrative cricket leagues globally, and excelling in T20 matches often leads to bigger opportunities. Markram added that while there haven’t been many talks about the auction in the camp, he would be thrilled if any players managed to secure IPL deals because of their performances in this series.

Several South African players are already locked in for next year’s IPL, which will run from late March to late May. Heinrich Klaasen has been retained by Sunrisers Hyderabad, and Tristan Stubbs will represent Delhi Capitals. Meanwhile, 91 South African players are registered for the IPL 2025 mega auction taking place in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on November 24 and 25. With 204 spots available across all franchises, competition will be fierce.

This series marks India’s first face-off with South Africa in T20Is since the intense T20 World Cup final, where India pulled off a dramatic win despite South Africa needing just 30 runs from the last five overs at one stage. Since then, under the leadership of Suryakumar Yadav, India has maintained an impressive 10-match winning streak in T20s.

Suryakumar Yadav spoke about his approach as a captain and how he tries to make the dressing room a comfortable space for players. “As a leader, my batting style is different from how I captain. You have to know what’s going on around you and understand what your players are feeling,” he explained. “Creating a comfort zone is important so they can express themselves freely on the field.”

Yadav also highlighted the importance of spending time with his teammates off the field to assess their strengths and determine how they can perform under pressure. He emphasized that in T20 cricket, things move quickly, and players need clarity and freedom to succeed.

India is expected to give Ramandeep Singh his debut in this series, while Axar Patel may finally get his chance after sitting out during the recent Test series against New Zealand.

Overall, this T20 series presents an exciting opportunity for both teams, especially for South African players aiming to make a mark ahead of the IPL auction.