The Indian team will enter the 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 the batting point of view, the first and second matches of the T20 series were quite mediocre for Team India. While Team India made a big score in the first match, the top and middle order failed miserably in the second match. Although the bowling has been strong in both the matches, the series is still tied at 1-1. Now India have to win the third T20I at Centurion if they want to win the series or avoid defeat. On one hand, this match is very important for young opener Abhishek Sharma, on the other hand, the 3 South African superstars of Centurion will pose 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 the Super Sport Park. India easily defeated South Africa by 41 runs in the first match, but in the second match, team India could score only 124 runs. Sanju Samson, who scored a century in the first match, could not even open his account this time while Abhishek Sharma’s poor form continued here as well. Young left-handed batsman Abhishek, who scored a brilliant century in the second match of his career, has not played a single big innings since then. Abhishek has played 9 matches so far out of which he has faced more than 10 balls in only 3. In such a case, this match may prove to be the last chance for them.
Along with this, Suriyakumar Yadav has also not been in his full form since becoming the captain 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. Nevertheless, in the second T20, Team India challenged South Africa to win. This was due to spinner Varun Chakraborty, whose balls South Africa had no response to. Varun took 5 wickets. Ravi Bishnoi also took 2 wickets.
Varun-Bishnoi magic won’t work?
In such a situation, once again the eyes will be on these two bowlers but the fact is that the pitch at Super Sport Park has not been very helpful for the spinners. There are only 2 spinners among the top 10 bowlers who have taken the most wickets in T20s at this ground, that too at number six and number seven. In such a situation, the onus will be on the Indian fast bowlers, but looking at the current form, South Africa’s pace department looks stronger. In particular, the deadly bowling of Gerald Coetzee and Marco Johnson can trouble Team India. Arsdeep Singh, Avish Khan and Hardik Pandya will have to play a big role from India.
Team India saved by 3 stars of Centurion
This ground is known for big scores and in the last T20 match played a year and a half ago, West Indies scored 258 runs but South Africa also achieved this score 1 over earlier. In such a situation, the biggest challenge for Team India is the three superstars of Centurion, who bat strongly on this field. These three are David Miller, Reza Hendrix and Henrik Klaasen. Here Miller has scored 200 runs (147 strike rate) in 10 innings, while Hendricks has scored 185 runs (169.72 strike rate) in just 5 innings. Classen has scored 178 runs in 7 innings and has a strike rate of 171. India played only one match here in 2018 and that too lost. The reason for the defeat was Klaasin who scored 69 runs off just 30 balls.
