Three T20Is Added to India Women's Tour of South Africa Ahead of Women's Champions Trophy

India Women's upcoming tour of South Africa later this year has been expanded with the addition of three T20 Internationals, giving both teams valuable match practice ahead of the inaugural ICC Women's Champions Trophy in Sri Lanka in February.

Originally scheduled to feature a warm-up match, three One-Day Internationals (ODIs), and a one-off Test between December 6 and 23, the tour has now been reshuffled. The revised itinerary will begin with the four-day Test in Gqeberha from December 9 to 12, followed by three ODIs and three T20Is between December 16 and 30.

The inclusion of the T20I series extends India's stay in South Africa by an additional week. The matches will be played during the festive period, with the T20Is scheduled for December 26, 29, and 30 in Benoni and Potchefstroom.

The revised schedule also avoids a clash between the women's Test and South Africa Men's home Test against England. Meanwhile, the ODI series—part of the ICC Women's Championship, which determines qualification for the 2029 Women's ODI World Cup—will be held in Paarl, Cape Town, and Bloemfontein, with Boland Park hosting a match that was not part of the original schedule.

India and South Africa have developed an increasingly competitive rivalry in recent years. India toured South Africa in March-April this year for a five-match T20I series, which the hosts won 4-1. The two sides also faced off at the ICC Women's T20 World Cup in England, where South Africa defeated India, significantly denting India's hopes of reaching the semi-finals.

Cricket South Africa (CSA) Chief Executive Officer Pholetsi Moseki welcomed the revised itinerary, saying the additional T20Is would provide crucial preparation for the Proteas Women ahead of next year's global tournament.

"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. 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," Moseki said.

South Africa's home international season promises to be a busy one, featuring 10 Test matches—eight involving the men's team and two featuring the women's side. The country will also host Australia men, Bangladesh men, England men, India women, and Australia women during the home summer. Discussions are reportedly ongoing over a possible adjustment to Australia's women's tour schedule due to the Champions Trophy and Australia's domestic commitments, with a final decision yet to be announced.