SA vs IND, 3rd T20I: South Africa Opt To Bowl As India Look to Draw Series; Check Playing XIs

Johannesburg: In a brief yet impactful T20 series so far, interrupted by weather in the first match and rain-affected in the second, key insights have emerged for both India and South Africa as they prepare for the T20 World Cup. Despite limited play, noteworthy performances have caught the eye.

• Suryakumar Yadav’s Entertaining Shots: Suryakumar Yadav’s aggressive shots, particularly over the wicketkeeper, have showcased his entertainment value in T20 cricket.
• Reeza Hendricks as Opener: Regardless of his opening partner, Reeza Hendricks is making a strong case to open the batting for South Africa in the upcoming T20 World Cup.
• Tabraiz Shamsi’s T20 Maturity: Tabraiz Shamsi has proven himself as a reliable asset in the T20 format, maturing into a dependable option for South Africa.
• Rinku Singh, India’s Finisher: Rinku Singh has emerged as a frontrunner for the finisher role in India’s T20 lineup, displaying promising performances.

Despite the series being affected by weather, the hope is for a full game at the Wanderers. Both teams are not at full strength, with South Africa releasing Marco Jansen and Gerald Coetzee for domestic four-day games in preparation for Tests. India, missing Deepak Chahar for personal reasons, aim to fine-tune their pace attack after struggling with consistency in damp conditions.

In Johannesburg, spinners may find less assistance, making them potential targets for formidable batting line-ups. Reeza Hendricks’ impressive form, averaging 51.50 in his last 12 T20Is, along with India’s powerful middle-order duo of Suryakumar and Rinku, adds excitement to the series. Despite T20 World Cup aspirations, India’s stand-in captain remains tight-lipped.

As the teams gear up for the decider, all eyes are on the Wanderers, hoping for an uninterrupted showcase of T20 cricket skills.

Playing XIs

South Africa: Reeza Hendricks, Matthew Breetzke, Aiden Markram(c), Heinrich Klaasen(w), David Miller, Donovan Ferreira, Andile Phehlukwayo, Keshav Maharaj, Lizaad Williams, Tabraiz Shamsi, Nandre Burger

India: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav(c), Rinku Singh, Jitesh Sharma(w), Ravindra Jadeja, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Mukesh Kumar