The Indian team will enter Centurion with the intention of taking the lead.Image Credit Source: PTI
Team India’s tour of South Africa has been a mixed bag so far. At least from a batting point of view, the first and second matches of the T20 series were completely mediocre for the Indian team. While in the first match the Indian team scored big, in the second match the top and middle order failed miserably. Although the bowling was strong in both matches, the series is still tied 1-1. Now, if India wants to win the series or avoid defeat, they will have to win the third T20 match to be held in Centurion. On one hand, this match is very important for young opener Abhishek Sharma, while on the other hand, Centurion’s 3 South African superstars will present a big challenge for team India.
Last chance for Abhishek?
The third match of the T20 series will be played on Wednesday, November 13 at SuperSport Park. India had easily defeated South Africa by a margin of 41 runs in the first match, but in the second match, team India could only score 124 runs. Sanju Samson, who scored a century in the first match, couldn’t even open his account this time, while Abhishek Sharma’s poor form continued here too. Young left-handed batsman Abhishek, who scored a brilliant century in the second match of his career, has not been able to play a single important innings since then. Abhishek has played 9 matches so far, of which he has faced more than 10 balls in only 3. In such a situation, this match may turn out to be his last chance.
At the same time, after becoming captain, Suryakumar Yadav has also not been in his full form and has failed in this series while Tilak Verma, Rinku Singh and Hardik Pandya have also not been able to do anything special in this series so far. . Hardik could only score 39 runs in 45 balls in the last match. Despite this, in the second T20, team India made South Africa suffer for the victory. The reason for this was spinner Varun Chakraborty, to whose dances South Africa had no response. Varun had taken 5 wickets. Ravi Bishnoi also took 2 wickets.
Varun-Bishnoi magic not working?
In such a situation, once again these two players will be under surveillance but the reality is that the pitch at SuperSport Park has not been of much help to the spinners. For this reason, among the top 10 bowlers who have taken the most wickets in T20, there are only 2 spinners, who are also at number six and seventh. In such a situation, the onus will be on the Indian fast bowlers but if we look at the current form, the South African pace department looks stronger. Especially the lethal bowling of Gerald Coetzee and Marco Janson can put the Indian team in trouble. In such a situation, Arshdeep Singh, Avesh Khan and Hardik Pandya will have to play an important role for India.
Team India saved from Centurion’s 3 stars
This ground is known for its big scores and in the last T20 match played a year and a half ago, West Indies scored 258 runs but South Africa had also achieved this score 1 more before. In such a situation, the biggest challenge for the Indian team is Centurion’s three superstars, who bat a lot in this field. These three are David Miller, Reeza Hendrix and Heinrich Klaasen. Here Miller scored 200 runs (strike rate of 147) in 10 innings, while Hendricks scored 185 runs (strike rate of 169.72) in just 5 innings. Clason has scored 178 runs in 7 innings and the strike rate is 171. India played only one match here in 2018 and lost that too. The reason for the defeat was also Classen, who had scored 69 runs in just 30 balls.
