Indian Team Seeks Blessings at Jagannath Temple Before Barabati T20

Bhubaneswar: With just hours remaining for the 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.

According to reports, Tilak Varma, Washington Sundar, Hardik Pandya, and captain Suryakumar Yadav — accompanied by his wife — were among the players who offered prayers at the shrine. Head coach Gautam Gambhir also joined the group during the early-morning visit.

The players, escorted under tight security, entered the temple premises where Suryakumar greeted devotees with a heartfelt “Jai Jagannath” at the Singhadwar before proceeding for darshan.

Team India is hoping for a change in fortunes at the Barabati Stadium, where they have lost both previous T20 encounters against South Africa. With momentum on their side following a successful ODI series, the squad is aiming to kick off the 5-match series on a winning note.

The much-anticipated match begins at 7 pm, with a packed stadium expected to erupt in support of the home team.