Cricket News

India vs South Africa: 1st T20I Match Preview, Probable Playing XIs, Where to watch

India and South Africa are set to lock horns with each other in a three-match T20I series, starting tomorrow.

Sep 27, 2022 3:07 pm

The T20I bandwagon for India moves after the Australia series to hosting the South Africans on home soil. A three-match T20I series will be played with the first game to be held in Thiruvanthapuram. The encounter has already been spiced up with the locals threatening to protest at the venue over Sanju Samson’s exclusion from the India squad for the South Africa series and for the 2022 20-20 World Cup.

The 1st T20 will be a great encounter as the South Africans will be looking to win another T20 series in India as they have not lost a bilateral series in India so far. All in all, it will be a mouthwatering encounter to watch out for.

Team News

India

The last time India played South Africa, the series ended in a 2-2 draw because the last game at Bangalore was washed out. The previous South Africa series for India had a young side but now the likes of Jasprit Bumrah, Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli are back. It makes the T20I setup more formidable for India.

South Africa

The proteas led by Temba Bavuma will be looking to win the series in India. They will led by a world class bowling attack comprising the likes of Kagiso Rabada, Andrich Nortje and Marco Jansen. The South Africans have never lost a bilateral series on Indian soil. But they will look to put their best foot forward in the series.

Players to Watch out for

India

Suryakumar Yadav, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma

South Africa

Marco Jansen, Quinton De Kock, Kagiso Rabada.

Probable Playing XI

India

KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma (c), Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Dinesh Karthik, Rishabh Pant (wk), Axar Patel, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah, Deepak Chahar, Arshdeep Singh.

South Africa

Quinton de Kock (wk), Reeza Hendricks, Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram, Temba Bavuma (c), David Miller, Anrich Nortje, Dwaine Pretorius, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi.

Pitch Report

It is a balanced wicket that will greet the players at the Greenfield Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram were teams will look to bat second and chase at this venue. Only two T20I’s have been played at this stadium.