South Africa and India will be using the series to fine-tune for the 2022 ICC T20 World Cup that will get under way next month in Australia.

When South Africa toured India in June, the series was drawn 2-2, while the 5th T20 International produced no result.

The 1st T20 International will be played tomorrow in Kerala and the spinner, Tabraiz Shamsi, is expecting another thrilling series.

It's always a good challenge when we play against India. They've just come off a good series win against Australia,” said the spinner.

“Us as well - the last time we were here we had a good series. I think that it is going to be a very good series and it is going to be hotly contested.

“Whichever team play well will be the winners. For me, personally, I love coming to India and performing here. I'm going to try and do my best once again.

“Our expectations are always the same. Whichever series we go and play we always expect ourselves to do good stuff in the series and win.

“I think it's going to be pretty much the same this time around, but obviously there is a World Cup coming up.

“We might be experimenting with a few things as well, which is normal for all the teams. The World Cup is the first priority.”

Wednesday’s 1st T20 International at the Greenfield International Stadium starts at 15:30.

Proteas - Temba Bavuma (captain), Quinton de Kock, Bjorn Fortuin, Reeza Hendricks, Heinrich Klaasen, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Wayne Parnell, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Rilee Rossouw, Tabraiz Shamsi, Tristan Stubbs.  

Morgan Piek/OFM Sport