After a comprehensive series-leveling victory in Centurion, Team India heads to Johannesburg’s Wanderers Stadium brimming with confidence. Suryakumar Yadav’s men have the chance to seal yet another bilateral T20I series triumph on South African soil – a feat they’ve achieved with remarkable consistency in recent years. This will also be India’s last T20 international, marking end of 2024 as the T20 World Cup champions with 21 wins (most) so far in the format.
The ‘Bull Ring’ has been a happy hunting ground for the Men in Blue, who famously triumphed over Pakistan in the 2007 T20 World Cup final at this very venue. Suryakumar himself notched up a memorable century the last time India visited these parts, and the skipper will be eager to recreate that magic as his side eyes a 3-1 series win. Before the last match of the series begins, let us look at how Team India might line up in Johannesburg on Friday.
Star-studded Indian top-order ft. Samson, Suryakumar
Following the retirement of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, India have experimented with the top order. However, with the duo of Shubman Gill and Yashasvi Jaiswal currently with the Indian Test team, Samson and Abhishek Sharma will continue at top of the order.
Following his superb century against Zimbabwe earlier this year, the talented southpaw failed to hit even 20 runs in an innings in his next 8 attempts. But now, Abhishek came up with a knock that would delight the Indian fans as he clubbed 50 off 25 in the third T20I against South Africa in Centurion. Meanwhile, who can forget what Tilak Varma did in the same match as he became the second-youngest Indian to hammer a T20I hundred.
Suryakumar needs to fire
At number four will obviously be Suryakumar Yadav. The Indian T20I skipper has been leading from the front in terms of approach but he needs to fire. He made 1 in the last game and just 4 in Gqeberha. In fact, in his last eight innings, Suryakumar has made just 172 runs at an uncanny average of 21.5.
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Hardik Pandya in action, Ramandeep Singh to make debut?
At number five and six are Hardik Pandya and Rinku Singh, respectively. The two are designated finishers of the Indian team and won’t sit out in the fourth T20I. Pandya has found a new mojo ever since IPL 2024, having made 352 at an amazing average and SR of 44.00 and 150.4, respectively. Rinku Singh, meanwhile, would be buoyed after his top retention at KKR for Rs 13 crore. However, one area of concern for the Indian think-tank has been the form of Rinku. The KKR dynamo has struggled to impose himself in the middle order. In his last 7 T20I innings, Rinku has managed to score just 91 runs at a poor average of 15.16 and at a SR of 128.16.
India brought a new face on the table in the form of Ramandeep Singh. The management likes to have multi-faceted players and Ramandeep is one of them. He is a proper striker of a cricket ball, and can even bowl those medium pace. As now may know as well, he is retained by KKR for Rs 4 crore. In 57 T20s, he has hammered 559 runs at a SR of 171.47.
Yash Dayal or Vijaykumar Vyshak to made debuts?
Till now, we have covered seven players, out of whom four are proper all-rounders. At number eight is Axar Patel, the star of the T20 World Cup Final. He isn’t selected for the BGT and hence is part of the T20I setup currently. This year, Patel has 18 wickets at an economy rate of 7.27. His mastery in left-arm spin will try to keep the hard-hitting Protea batters at bay.
The key talking point heading into the 4th T20I centers around the potential debut of young pace sensation Yash Dayal. The Royal Challengers Bengaluru star has been rewarded for his impressive IPL displays with a maiden national call-up, and all eyes will be on whether Suryakumar hands him the coveted India cap at his home ground.
Arshdeep Singh has led the attack admirably throughout the series, cementing his status as India’s premier T20I seamer. It remains to be seen if the team management opts to give the in-form left-armer a much-needed rest, paving the way for Dayal’s integration into the playing XI.
Predicted India Playing XI: SA vs IND 4th T20I
1. Sanju Samson
2. Abhishek Sharma
3. Tilak Varma
4. Suryakumar Yadav (c)
5. Hardik Pandya
6. Rinku Singh
7. Ramandeep Singh
8. Axar Patel
9. Varun Chakravarthy
10. Arshdeep Singh/Avesh Khan
11. Yash Dayal
Team India squad for T20Is vs South Africa
Suryakumar Yadav (C), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (WK), Rinku Singh, Tilak Varma, Jitesh Sharma (WK), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Ramandeep Singh, Varun Chakravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Avesh Khan, Yash Dayal.
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