SA adds three T20Is to home series against India, to ramp up Champions Trophy prep

The three 20-over contests will take place just after Christmas this year, just weeks prior to the start of the Champions Trophy event that is slated to be played in February 2027.

South Africa has added a trio of T20Is to their home multi-format series with India at the end of the year in order to ramp up preparations for the inaugural ICC Women's Champions Trophy event next year. The three 20-over contests will take place just after Christmas this year, just weeks prior to the start of the Champions Trophy event that is slated to be played in February 2027.

It means India will play a total of seven fixtures in South Africa in December, consisting of a one-off Test in Gqeberha from December 9, a three-match ODI series from December 16 and the trio of T20Is contests from December 26, as per the ICC. The matches will continue the recent rivalry between the two sides, with India having beaten South Africa last year in the final of the ICC Women's Cricket World Cup as they claimed their first 50-over title.

Cricket South Africa CEO Pholetsi Moseki welcomed the new schedule and believes the visit of India across December will help his side prepare well for the Champions Trophy event in February. "We are delighted to confirm the revised schedule for India's tour of South Africa, with the addition of the T20 International series over the festive period, ensuring our Proteas Women have the best possible preparation ahead of the inaugural ICC Women's Champions Trophy in Sri Lanka early next year," Moseki said in a statement as quoted by ICC.

"India remain one of the strongest teams in world cricket, and the opportunity to compete against them across all three formats will provide invaluable competition as we continue building towards another major ICC event," the CEO added. Series schedule:

Only Test: December 9-12, St. George's Park, Gqeberha First ODI: December 16, Boland Park, PaarlSecond ODI: December 19, Newlands Cricket Ground, Cape TownThird ODI: December 22, Mangaung Oval, Bloemfontein

First T20I: December 26, Willowmoore Park, BenoniSecond T20I: December 29, NWC Oval, PotchefstroomThird T20I: December 30, NWC Oval, Potchefstroom. (ANI)