SA v IND, 3rd T20I Preview: India look to bounce back in Centurion batting paradise
With all squared at 1-1, India and South Africa will head to the SuperSport Park in Centurion to resume their rivalry in the second of the T20I series.
Despite losing the second T20I after a big win in the series opener, India will be a confident bunch as they look to bounce back and secure an unbeatable lead.
India will have to quickly adjust to the change in conditions as the series moves to the Highveldt. The SuperSport Park is known for offering good bounce and pace. In the recent past, it has been a graveyard for bowlers. Since 2023, the average run rate at this venue has been 9.50 in T20 cricket. Last year, South Africa completed the highest-successful chase in T20I cricket, gunning down 259 in 18.5 overs against a touring West Indies team.
It will be a big test for the young bowling attack from both sides. India have enjoyed success with the ball, but they need to be prepared to take a beating and look for wickets.
India have found success with their spin-bowling unit. Varun Chakravarthy and Ravi Bishnoi have taken 12 wickets between them with the former dominating the bowling charts with 8 wickets at an economy rate of 8.25. While India will look to stick to their strengths, the bounce and carry that is on offer in Centurion might prompt them to make changes to their pace-bowling department.
On the other hand, India will certainly look to better their batting performance after having been bundled out for 124 in the second T20I. Runs from lower-order have been missing for the tourists and that’s an area that they would have worked on in the two-day break.
South Africa, on the other hand, were helped by Gerald Coetzee’s lower-order hitting and Tristan Stubbs’s solidity in the second T20I. The hosts will be hoping for some more runs from their famed middle-order. Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller, who are good players of spin, will be looking to overcome the Varun threat and return to peak form.
All-rounder Marco Jansen, speaking on the eve of the 3rd T20I, said he is confident of their batters finding a way to counter the spin threat.
“Playing spin here is a lot different to playing in PE or Durban. Here there is bounce, and they will try and hit a fuller length because of the bounce. So, how we go about that is different to each individual,” Jansen said.
PITCH AND CONDITIONS: CENTURION
The weather is expected to be clear for the 3rd T20I on Wednesday. The pitch will offer bounce and pace, but the batters will enjoy the ball coming onto the bat. Indian spinners need to find a way to survive the onslaught and continue their success in the series.
TEAM NEWS: 3rd T20I
Abhishek Sharma’s form has been a cause for concern. In eight of his nine innings in T20Is, Abhishek has not managed to go past the 20-run mark. He has managed just 11 runs from two T20Is so far in the series. However, India will be looking to give another opportunity to the young batter. With no back-up openers in the side, India seem to have been prepared to give their openers an extended run the Rainbow Nation.
In Centurion, India might look to bring in an extra pacer in place of a spinner. Axar Patel might face the axe and India might hand a debut to Yash Dayal or Vijaykumar Vyshak.
All-rounder Ramandeep Singh, who can bowl some handy medium pace, might also be in the fray.
On the other hand, South Africa have the option of bringing in Ottneil Baartman into the mix to add more raw pace in the line-up. The hosts might also look at cutting down on their spin-bowling attack and leg-spinner Nqaba Peter might miss out on Wednesday.
SA v IND, 3rd T20I: PREDICTED XIs
India: Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav (captain), TIlak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Ramandeep Singh, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakravarthy, Yash Dayal.
South Africa: Ryan Rickelton, Reeza Hendricks, Aiden Markram (captain), Tristan Stubbs, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Marco Jansen, Gerald Coetzee, Keshav Maharaj, Andile Simelane, Ottneil Baartman.