Suryakumar Yadav and co. will be eyeing to bounce back in Centurion in IND vs SA 3rd T20I after losing the previous game in in an agonizing margin. The Men in Blue are expected to retain the same side for the contest, with the exception of handing pacer Yash Dayal his T20I debut. The onus will be on the batting-order to pull up their socks after the top-order failed to fire in the 2nd T20I, putting the middle-order batters under tremendous pressure.
Predicted India XI for IND vs SA 3rd T20I
- Sanju Samson
- Abhishek Sharma
- Suryakumar Yadav
- Tilak Varma
- Hardik Pandya
- Rinku Singh
- Axar Patel
- Arshdeep Singh
- Ravi Bishnoi
- Varun Chakravarthy
- Yash Dayal
All eyes on top-order ft. Sanju Samson, SKY
India’s top-order went all guns blazing in the 1st T20I at Durban, with Sanju Samson leading the charge and going on to score his second consecutive hundred. However, both openers Samson and Abhishek Sharma flopped in the 2nd T20I. The Kerala batter departed for an embarrassing duck while Sharma managed just 4 runs. While Samson has been in good touch recently, the focus will be on Abhishek Sharma whose poor form has spilt over from IND vs BAN series to the South Africa tour.
India will hope that captain Suryakumar Yadav finds his golden touch in the game, given that he has had some good starts in the recent past but has failed to convert them. The prolific batter has managed to score only 25 runs in two matches so far in the series. The Men in Blue will be heavily dependent on SKY, should the top-order fail.
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Solid middle-order
India’s middle-order has been rock solid so far in IND vs SA series. Veterans Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel and Tilak Varma have played their parts to perfection, with both bat and ball. The trio played a crucial role in ensuring India reach a respectable total of 124 in the 2nd T20I. Tilak Varma has arguably been the better batter among the three, with 53 runs from two matches.
Spin magic ft. Varun Chakravarthy
The spinner duo of Varun Chakravarthy and Ravi Bishnoi have been the standout among the Indian bowlers so far in the series. The Tamil Nadu spinner took a five-wicket haul in the 2nd T20I and another three-wicket haul in Durban. Bishnoi has bagged four scalps in two games. While the spinners are not expected to get much assistance at the SuperSport Park in Centurion, it is safe to say that the duo will retain their spots in the playing XI.
Debut for Yash Dayal
Yash Dayal, who has warmed the bench so far, is expected to be handed his T20I debut in IND vs SA 3rd T20I. The pacer was rewarded with a call-up to the Indian side following a above average season in IPL 2024. Although he is more of a red-ball pacer, the management is expected to give him a chance and allow him to don the Indian jersey. This would mean Avesh Khan would have to sit out. The Indian pace attack will comprise of Arshdeep Singh, Yash Dayal and Hardik Pandya.
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