Like Matthew Wade-led Australia, the current South African team has quite a few new faces with some of the regulars either rested or out with injury. The young Indian side did impress against that Australian side in the recent home T20Is with the 4-1 series win certainly keeping them in good stead.
But South Africa at home, regardless of the presence of their key players, are always difficult to beat while for several players in this Indian line-up, the first T20I at the Kingsmead in Durban on Sunday is set to be their maiden appearance on South African soil.
Adjusting to South African conditions is a challenge that’s not really too easy as even the more established names in Indian cricket have struggled there in spite of their wealth of experience. The likes of Ishan Kishan, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Rinku Singh and Jitesh Sharma have been quite impressive in India colours, but at home so far. Their actual test begins with this tour on Sunday, and it could well be a tricky one.
Yashasvi Jaiswal. PTI photo
If they clear this test with distinction, they will certainly be travelling a few more steps towards confirming their place in India’s squad for next year’s T20 World Cup.
Almost everywhere today pitches are on the flatter side and favouring batsmen, The Kingsmead pitch, too, is unlikely to be anything different and may have a bit of purchase for the spinners. But the basic hardness of those surfaces will remain, while the Proteas have all grown up playing in such conditions.
“When I batted, there was extra bounce here compared to the Indian wickets. The pace is a bit more, so we’ll have to practise against pace bowling,” Rinku told bcci.tv.
Quicks like Gerald Coetzee, who was one of the finds for the Proteas in this year’s ODI World Cup, and left-armer Marco Jansen — though he struggled in the closing stages of the showpiece event — will not be too easy to put away in South African conditions.
Ruturaj Gaikwad keep up their impressive performance in the T20Is against South Africa. PTI photo
Combination-wise, with Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer and Ravindra Jadeja along with captain Suryakumar Yadav appearing to be automatic choices in the XI, India need to finalise the other spots and the bowling attack. Rinku, proving his mettle against the Australians, is set to be a part of the middle order at No.5 or 6, but who opens alongside Gill?
Given his performances of late, Yashasvi Jaiswal appears to be the favourite. Kishan though can still make the squad as the keeper-batter.
To talk of the bowling attack, it remains to be seen if India include any other quick alongside Arshdeep Singh and Mukesh Kumar. As for the spinners, will both Ravi Bishnoi and Kuldeep Yadav be in the XI? Another call that the team management needs to take.
