Bhubaneswar, Dec 9: With just hours remaining for the much-anticipated first T20 match against South Africa at Barabati Stadium, several Indian players, along with head coach Gautam Gambhir, visited the Jagannath Temple in Puri on Tuesday to seek blessings for a strong start to the series.

According to reports, Tilak Varma, Washington Sundar, Hardik Pandya, and team captain Suryakumar Yadav, accompanied by his wife, were among the players who offered prayers at the temple. Coach Gambhir also joined the contingent, marking a spiritual moment ahead of the high-stakes match. The visit was conducted under a tight security arrangement as players made their way into the temple premises.

At the Singhadwar, Suryakumar greeted devotees with a warm “Jai Jagannath”, acknowledging the overwhelming support from fans before performing rituals inside the shrine. The team’s visit is seen as an effort to draw inspiration and divine strength as they prepare for the contest.

Team India is determined to turn around its fortunes at Barabati Stadium, where they have previously lost both T20 matches against South Africa. With the 5-match series kicking off today, the men in blue hope to carry forward their momentum from the recent ODI series victory.

The match will commence at 7 PM, and a packed stadium is expected to roar in support as India aims for a winning start in Cuttack.

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