Argus News - Team India To Leave at This Exact Time for Barabati Clash

Cuttack, Dec 9: Security has been intensified between Bhubaneswar and Cuttack as both teams prepare to leave their hotel for Barabati Stadium ahead of today’s India–South Africa T20 international.

According to a source, the advance security team will leave Bhubaneswar’s Mayfair Hotel at 3pm to sanitise the route and stadium perimeters. South Africa’s squad is scheduled to depart at 4:45pm, followed by Team India at 4:50pm, with multiple police units deployed along the 28-km corridor for a controlled and staggered movement.

Personnel from the Commissionerate Police, special tactical units and traffic teams have been stationed at key junctions, with restrictions placed on public access near the convoy route.

Earlier in the day, four Indian players — head coach Gautam Gambhir, Tilak Verma, Hardik Pandya and Washington Sundar — visited the Jagannath Temple in Puri for darshan. Captain Suryakumar Yadav also offered prayers along with his wife Devisha Shetty.

Both squads completed their final practice sessions on Monday. India trained under Gambhir’s supervision for three hours, while South Africa held an evening session under floodlights. Barabati has hosted three T20Is so far, with India winning once and South Africa winning twice.

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Crowds are expected to gather in large numbers near the stadium as security agencies prepare for a high-attendance event.