Follow UsWith a win in the third T20 International (T20I) in Visakhapatnam India have kept them alive in the five-match series but it would count for nothing if they do not get over the line in the fourth game against South Africa in Rajkot on Friday (June 17).
With a win in the previous game, India also registered their first win in eight matches across formats against the Proteas. In T20Is, India have won just two of their last five games against South Africa.
Ground details
Rajkot has hosted just three T20Is since the first game in 2013. In these three matches, the fast bowlers have picked up 63% of the wickets and have done so at an economy rate of 9.3, average of 41.1 and strike-rate of 26.6. While the spinners' share of the wickets have been comparatively less, they have a better record in all other parameters. Spinners have conceded 8.8 an over and struck once every 35.2 runs and 24 balls apart.
Despite their low share of the wickets, they might still have a say in this match. Both sides are well-stocked with world-class spinners and having one or two in your team wouldn’t hurt.
Suggested team
While you could go for the above team, you also have the option of choosing your team from Cricket.com’s Fantasy Research Centre. You can use this tool to build your team with the help of algorithms. Then, based on your preferences, the platform will guide you through creating the ideal fantasy XI.
Captain and Vice-captain Suggestions
For small leagues: Ishan Kishan (c), David Miller (vc)
For Grand leagues: Bhuvneshwar Kumar (c), Tabraiz Shamsi (vc)
Stats that matter
Ishan Kishan has turned things around in the last five T20 innings. He has scored over 30 in each of those matches which includes a couple of fifties as well. His good showing in the T20I series with scores of 54, 34 and 76 has taken him into the top 10 of the ICC T20I rankings as well. With 64 runs at a strike-rate of 157.69, he is the highest run-getter in the ongoing T20I series so far.
David Miller may have had an off day in Visakhapatnam, but that was the first time he was dismissed in his last five T20 innings. He was out there to finish the match off in Cuttack (20*), Delhi (64*)in the IPL final (32*)and before that, in the Qualifier 1 (68*). Miller is now perhaps as dangerous as he has ever been in his career.
India have played just three T20Is in Rajkot since their first one in 2013. They have won two and last one.
India have lost the last seven bilateral T20I series at home (MIN: 2 matches in a series). Their last defeat came at the hands of Australia in February 2019.
Grand League punts
Among bowlers from the top 10 T20I teams, since 2021, only Nasum Ahmed (16) and Josh Hazlewood (19) have picked up more wickets than Bhuvneshwar Kumar (12) in the powerplay. The India pacer has got his wickets at an economy rate of 5.6, average of 18.1 and balls per wicket ratio of 19.5.
He may not have had a great series so far, but South Africa will hope Tabraiz Shamsi can come good in this game. The middle-overs is where his strength lies and in T20Is since 2021, no bowler has picked up more wickets in that phase than Shamsi (33).
Dwaine Pretorius’s stock has certainly gone up in the last couple of months. He has executed is variations extremely well and despite not using the Yorkers as much, has been among the successful bowlers for the Proteas and also CSK in the IPL. In T20Is since 2021, Pretorius has picked up 14 wickets at an economy rate of nine at the death, making him a useful resource in that period.
Probable XIs
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
South Africa: Temba Bavuma (c), Reeza Hendricks, Dwaine Pretorius, Rassie van der Dussen, Heinrich Klaasen (wk), David Miller, Wayne Parnell, Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, Tabraiz Shamsi, Anrich Nortje
NOTE: Quinton de Kock could be available subject to him recovering from his wrist injury. Aiden Markram, meanwhile, has been ruled out for the remainder of the series.