India vs South Africa: The much-anticipated T20 series between India and South Africa kicks off at Kingsmead, Durban, on Friday, November 8, 2024.

Head-to-Head Record

South Africa wins: 15

India wins: 11

NR: 1

Team News

India
India enters this series with a relatively fresh squad, captained by Suryakumar Yadav. With veterans like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Ravindra Jadeja retiring from T20Is, this tour marks an opportunity for India’s younger players to establish themselves. Sanju Samson, Hardik Pandya, and Arshdeep Singh are among the experienced names in the squad, while newcomers like Tilak Varma and Abhishek Sharma add excitement.

South Africa
South Africa, led by Aiden Markram, will miss key players such as Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, and Quinton de Kock. However, they boast a balanced squad with explosive batters like David Miller and Tristan Stubbs, and effective bowlers like Keshav Maharaj and Patrick Kruger, aiming to avenge their World Cup final loss.

Form Guide

India
India comes into this series on a winning streak, having swept Bangladesh 3-0 in their last T20I series at home. This will be their first T20I series on South African soil since winning the T20 World Cup.

South Africa
South Africa’s recent T20 form has been inconsistent, with losses in their last three T20Is. However, their home-ground advantage and new faces could be the boost they need against a young Indian squad.

Last Five Meetings

• 29 June 2024: India won by 7 runs (T20 World Cup Final, Kensington Oval)
• 14 December 2023: India won by 106 runs
• 12 December 2023: South Africa won by 5 wickets (DLS method)
• 10 December 2023: Match abandoned
• 30 October 2022: South Africa won by 5 wickets

Predicted Playing XIs

South Africa

1. Aiden Markram (c)
2. Reeza Hendricks
3. Ryan Rickelton (wk)
4. David Miller
5. Patrick Kruger
6. Heinrich Klaasen
7. Gerald Coetzee
8. Ottneil Baartman
9. Tristan Stubbs
10. Keshav Maharaj
11. Nqabayomzi Peter

India

1. Suryakumar Yadav (c)
2. Sanju Samson (wk)
3. Abhishek Sharma
4. Hardik Pandya
5. Tilak Varma
6. Rinku Singh
7. Varun Chakravarthy
8. Axar Patel
9. Arshdeep Singh
10. Avesh Khan
11. Ramandeep Singh

Key Players to Watch

India

• Suryakumar Yadav: Known for his aggressive batting, he’ll be critical in setting the tone.
• Sanju Samson: With a high T20 strike rate, Samson’s middle-order stability will be essential.
• Arshdeep Singh: Arshdeep’s bowling at the death has been exceptional, making him a valuable asset.

South Africa

• David Miller: A powerful finisher who can change games single-handedly.
• Keshav Maharaj: Maharaj’s spin will play a key role on home pitches, potentially exploiting Indian batters.
• Tristan Stubbs: A rising star, Stubbs’ aggressive style can provide early momentum.

SWOT Analysis for India vs South Africa for the T20 Series

India

Strengths:

1. Aggressive Young Squad: India’s lineup is filled with young talent, bringing fresh energy and aggression. Players like Suryakumar Yadav, Sanju Samson, and Rinku Singh can accelerate the innings quickly.
2. Recent Form and Winning Momentum: India is coming off a successful home series against Bangladesh and an impressive T20 World Cup win. This winning streak boosts the team’s confidence.
3. Spin Options: Varun Chakravarthy and Axar Patel provide strong spin options, which could be advantageous if conditions support turn.
4. Flexible Batting Lineup: The squad includes versatile players who can adapt to different batting orders, giving the team flexibility and depth.

Weaknesses:

1. Inexperienced Bowling Attack: Many bowlers in the squad lack experience in South African conditions. With bowlers like Arshdeep Singh and Avesh Khan leading, the attack may struggle against experienced South African batters.
2. Unproven in Foreign Conditions: India’s young squad lacks international experience on South African pitches, which are known for pace and bounce.
3. Pressure on Middle Order: With new openers like Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma, the middle order will face additional pressure if the opening partnership doesn’t perform well.

Opportunities:

1. Establishing New Talent: This series is an opportunity for emerging players like Tilak Varma, Abhishek Sharma, and Jitesh Sharma to cement their places in the team, especially with veterans retired from T20Is.
2. Adaptation to Overseas Conditions: A successful series in South Africa can help younger players gain experience and confidence, contributing to India’s depth in international cricket.
3. Experimenting with Bowling Combinations: India can try different bowling combinations and tactics, particularly in pace and spin.

Threats:

1. South Africa’s Home Advantage: South Africa has a history of dominating on home soil, which poses a challenge for India’s relatively inexperienced players.
2. Weather and Pitch Conditions: Predicted rain and overcast conditions in Durban could make batting challenging and favor South Africa’s bowlers.
3. Psychological Pressure: India’s recent loss to New Zealand in the Test series might affect morale, and South Africa’s desire for World Cup revenge adds competitive tension.

South Africa

Strengths:

1. Home Ground Advantage: South Africa is familiar with Kingsmead’s pace and bounce, which suits their bowlers and aggressive batters like David Miller and Tristan Stubbs.
2. Experienced Core: Despite missing some senior players, South Africa has experienced middle-order batters like Miller and Klaasen who can anchor the innings.
3. Strong Bowling Attack: Even without Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje, the team has a balanced bowling lineup with options like Keshav Maharaj, Gerald Coetzee, and Ottneil Baartman.
4. Resilience and Motivation: After losing the T20 World Cup final to India, South Africa will be motivated to redeem themselves on home soil.

Weaknesses:

1. Inconsistency in Recent Matches: South Africa’s form in T20s has been inconsistent, with losses in their last three T20Is, which may affect confidence.
2. Lack of Star Players: Key players like Rabada, Nortje, and de Kock are absent, weakening both their batting and bowling firepower.
3. Pressure on Aiden Markram: As captain, Markram must lead a balanced team, but his batting performance in T20s has been inconsistent, which could impact the team’s stability.

Opportunities:

1. Testing New Talent: Players like Ryan Rickelton and Nqabayomzi Peter have a chance to prove themselves in a high-stakes series.
2. Leveraging Spin on Home Pitches: Keshav Maharaj’s experience could give the South African bowling attack a tactical edge, especially against an Indian team with inexperienced overseas players.
3. Revenge for World Cup Final: A strong performance could help South Africa overcome the psychological setback of their recent World Cup final loss to India.

Threats:

1. India’s Aggressive Batting Lineup: With players like Suryakumar Yadav and Hardik Pandya, India’s batting can accelerate quickly, posing a serious threat in limited-overs cricket.
2. Rain-affected Matches: Overcast and rainy conditions could disrupt South Africa’s rhythm and favor India’s spinners if the conditions get damp.
3. Inexperienced Bowling Depth: If their frontline bowlers fail, the South African backup bowlers lack significant international experience and may struggle under pressure.

India vs South Africa Prediction

With recent T20 World Cup success and a 15-11 head-to-head record, India has a slight edge. However, South Africa’s home advantage and the desire to redeem their World Cup final loss could make this a close contest. Expect a hard-fought series with India possibly taking the first game.

Where to Watch India vs South Africa T20 2024 Series Live

• Streaming: JioCinema
• TV Channels: Sports18 1 and Sports18 1 HD

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