Down 0-1 in the IND vs SA T20 series, India Cricket Team will take on South Africa in the third and final T20I on Thursday in Johannesburg. With just one match possible due to rain, India haven’t had many opportunities to use a full squad. And now that the series is on the line, head coach Rahul Dravid and captain Suryakumar Yadav could shy away from testing the bench in the India vs South Africa 3rd T20.
To be fair on the India Cricket Team, they could not have done much with the ball with the outfield still wet in Port Elizabeth. Arshdeep Singh conceded at 15.50 while Mukesh Kumar went at 11.30 as South Africa chased down a 152-run target (on DLS method) in 15 overs with seven deliveries left.
However, there were still positives. Mohammed Siraj bowled an excellent spell of 1/27 in three overs. Kuldeep Yadav also bowled a good spell with 1/26.
Series at stake
While the eyes will be on preparations for the T20 World Cup 2024, Rahul Dravid or Suryakumar Yadav will be aware of the fact that a series is also on the line. If India lose in Johannesburg, it will be their second T20 series loss in 2023 away from home. Team India lost to West Indies 2-3 in a five-match T20 series earlier this year.
In fact, since 2017, India have only lost three T20I series (consisting of two or more matches) away from home. Last year, India Cricket Team won all four series away from home. But now, they face the chance of another series loss.
India’s away series defeat in T20Is (excluding one-off matches)
| Series Result | Opponent | Year |
| 0-2 | New Zealand | 2009 |
| 1-2 | New Zealand | 2019 |
| 1-2 | Sri Lanka | 2021 |
| 2-3 | West Indies | 2023 |
IND vs SA 3rd T20: Short vs long term goal
But what’s happened in the India vs South Africa 2nd T20 is in the past now. The time is to focus on the IND vs SA 3rd T20. And that is where the dilemma begins. Even though Rahul Dravid would want to field the strongest XI to avoid a second T20I series defeat in 2023, his eyes will be on the long-term goal: T20 World Cup 2024.
Even though India Cricket Team did opt for Tilak Varma over Shreyas Iyer and Kuldeep Yadav over Ravi Bishnoi, that could change in the IND vs SA 3rd T20. Despite Tilak’s skills, Iyer’s experience could help save the series. But with only four T20Is left, it could be one of the opportunities to throw Tilak Varma under pressure and see how he does.
Similarly, Jitesh Sharma could also get a longer run as Ishan Kishan is already a tried and tested player. Jitesh instead needs a little more time to settle in the role with T20 World Cup 2024 six months away.
However, Kuldeep Yadav vs Ravi Bishnoi could be a case study. Both are equally successful but there is a place for only one leg-spinner. If Ravi Bishnoi is the World No 1 T20I bowler, Kuldeep Yadav is currently India’s best leg-spinner. In Johannesburg, which is a graveyard of sorts for bowlers, Dravid will have to take a conscious call on the choice.
South Africa too are in the same boat. They have four T20Is to prepare for the T20 World Cup and the India series is a chance to test some of the bench warmers. A series win or loss may not matter much. Instead, they will be careful of not losing the momentum.
IND vs SA 3rd T20 squads
India Squad: Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav(c), Rinku Singh, Jitesh Sharma(w), Ravindra Jadeja, Deepak Chahar, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, Ishan Kishan, Mukesh Kumar, Washington Sundar, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Tilak Varma, Kuldeep Yadav
South Africa Squad: Reeza Hendricks, Matthew Breetzke, Tristan Stubbs, Aiden Markram(c), Heinrich Klaasen(w), David Miller, Andile Phehlukwayo, Keshav Maharaj, Gerald Coetzee, Nandre Burger, Tabraiz Shamsi, Ottniel Baartman, Marco Jansen, Donovan Ferreira, Lizaad Williams
