Follow UsIndia’s record at home in T20 Internationals (T20I) will be in jeopardy as they take on South Africa in the fourth match of the series in Rajkot on Friday (June 17). They have won seven T20I series in a row at home (minimum of two matches in a series) and the win at Visakhapatnam was crucial in ensuring India remain in the hunt to make it eight.
South Africa too have been in excellent form not just in this series, but they have tasted victories in their last three series, all coming away from home. Temba Bauvma’s men would love to add another scalp in their feather.
“I don't think you guys were thinking we were going to come here and win the series 5-0 just because all the big-name players aren't here. I'd be foolish to change our approach after one loss," Bavuma had said after the loss in the third T20I.
Bavuma’s right when he says one bad day in the office does not mean that South Africa are a bad side, but that very well could be the sniff that this new-look Indian side needs as they look to take another huge step in their quest to win the series after being 0-2 down.
Where have India done well?
India’s top-order
With the big guns missing this series, it has provided an opportunity for the new faces to come in and deliver, while there has been a chance for a few familiar faces to cement their place in the team.
Ishan Kishan has done his chances no harm after scoring two fifties that has seen him jump 68 spots into seventh place in the ICC T20I rankings, while Ruturaj Gaikwad has gotten starts in a couple of games. Shreyas Iyer has scored 90 in three matches but has not converted any of his innings into anything substantial.
Overall, India’s top three have scored 355 runs at 37.2 at a run-rate of 8.7. The Proteas have paled in comparison, scoring just 155 at just 17.2, managing to score at just 7.6 an over.
Losing Quinton de Kock for the last two games has not been ideal for them, and his potential return in this game could be a huge boost as he has forged a successful partnership with Bavuma at the top.
Acing the powerplay
As a result of the top three batters faring well as a unit in the first six overs, India have lost just one wicket in all three matches put together compared to South Africa’s seven. The hosts have also dominated the scoring rate, getting 8.3 an over compared to the Proteas’ 7.1
The main reason for South Africa’s poor show in the first six has been top bowling spells from Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Harshal Patel, who have figures of 6 for 38 between them in the nine overs bowled.
Harshal, often used in the middle and the death by his IPL franchise Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) has been thrown in the deep end in the powerplays as well and delivered thus far, while Bhuvneshwar, who has 12 wickets at an economy rate of 5.6 in this phase in T20Is since 2021, is proving to be as consistent as ever.
Where have the Proteas excelled?
Solid middle-order
While South Africa’s top three may not have been at their best, there’s little doubt over the efficiency of their middle-order (4-7). In Delhi, it was David Miller and Rassie van der Dussen who took them to a win, while in Cuttack, it was Heinrich Klaasen who tore into the bowling attack. None of them however came to the party in Visakhapatnam – a game they lost by a massive 48 runs.
The South African middle-order has scored at 8.9 an over, compared to India’s 8.2, which is not that bad. But the Proteas batters have scored at an average of close to 50 and have struck a boundary every 4.9 deliveries. India in comparison have been let down in this regard, with batters No.4 to No.7 scoring at an average of 27.2, hitting a boundary just once every six deliveries.
Chahal redeems himself, Shamsi to follow suit?
After picking up just a single wicket in the first two matches, Yuzvendra Chahal bounced back with a player of the match-winning performance in Visakhapatnam, but Tabraiz Shamsi, who dropped to the third position in T20I rankings has not had luck going his way thus far.
The batters have not let the wrist spinners settle in and get into a rhythm. All of four Chahal’s wickets this series have come against right-handers, but, at the same time, they have taken him for 12 an over. Shamsi on the other hand has had issues with left-handers who have scored at 12.4 runs per over against him.
Chahal learnt quicky that dropping the ball a little short is the way to go given the batters give him the charge quite often, as has been the case with Shamsi. The short ball has fetched Chahal a couple of wickets. Shamsi too would have observed that and will look to drag his length back a little bit.
Pressure mounting on Pant
Would Pant find a place in the T20Is if he wasn’t the captain? This is perhaps the question on every fans’ lips. Even as a wicketkeeper he is still replaceable given India have Dinesh Karthik and Ishan Kishan. If we look beyond the current squad, there’s KL Rahul and also Sanju Samson. Just keeping wickets is no longer what’s required from a wicketkeeper, but he has got to chip in with the bat as well.
For all his power-hitting, Rishabh Pant is someone who takes a few deliveries before he tees off. In fact, in T20Is since 2021, Pant has scored at a strike-rate of just 120 in his first 10 balls. However, once he gets past the initial stage, he turns into the sort of powerful hitter he is renowned for.
Between balls 11-20, he strikes at 141.03 and in the space of the next 10 ball range that strike-rate shoots up above 170. Pant faced just seven and eight balls in the last two matches, but in Delhi, he scored a 16-ball 29, which took India beyond 200.
Occupying the No. 4 spot, if he manages to click, with the likes of Hardik Pandya and Karthik to follow, no mountain would be difficult to conquer.
Probable XIs:
If de Kock is fit, Reeza Hendricks makes way for him at the top. Klaasen would perhaps be more than happy to handover the wicketkeeping gloves to the southpaw. With Aiden Markram ruled out for the rest of the tour, we are sure to see Dwaine Pretorius take charge in the No. 3 slot.
South Africa: Temba Bavuma (c), Reeza Hendricks/Quinton de Kock, Dwaine Pretorius, Rassie van der Dussen, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Wayne Parnell, Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, Tabraiz Shamsi, Anrich Nortje
Given that Avesh Khan has bowled 11 wicketless overs in the series so far, it would not be a bad idea to give Umran Malik or Arshdeep Singh a go. While Umran offers incredible pace, Arshdeep gives the side a left-arm option in the fast bowling department that could prove pivotal.
India: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant (c & wk), Hardik Pandya, Dinesh Karthik, Axar Patel, Harshal Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Avesh Khan/Umran Mailk/ Arshdeep Singh