The first match of the much-awaited four-match T20 series between India and South Africa will be played today at the Kingsmead Cricket Ground in Durban. As per Indian time, the match will start at 8:30 PM and the toss will be done at 8:00 PM. This match is special for Indian cricket fans, because in the T-20 World Cup held in June, the Indian team had created history by defeating South Africa in the final. Now once again both the teams will face each other, due to which the excitement is at its peak.
Face to face between the two teams: Who is superior to whom?
The competition between India and South Africa in T20 cricket has always been interesting. So far both the teams have played 27 T-20 matches, in which India has won 15 matches while South Africa has won 11. One match remained inconclusive. Last year in 2023, India played a series against South Africa which was a 1-1 draw, one match was canceled due to rain. So far, there have been a total of 9 T20 series between the two teams, out of which 4 were won by India and 2 by South Africa, while 3 series were drawn.
Indian team’s form and player performance
The current form of Indian captain Suryakumar Yadav is very special for the Indian team. This year, he has become the highest run-scorer in T-20 by scoring more than 400 runs in 14 matches, which includes four half-centuries. Talking about bowling, pacer Arshdeep Singh has been the most successful bowler of the Indian team. He has taken 28 wickets in 14 matches. The presence of players like Suryakumar and Arshdeep is proving to be a strength for the Indian team, especially at a time when every match of the T20 series is decisive.
Reeza Hendrix and South Africa’s preparations
South Africa’s opener Reeza Hendricks is the team’s highest run scorer this year. He has shown his potential by scoring 399 runs in 17 matches. However, the team’s leading bowler Enrique Nortya is not a part of this series. In his absence, Ottnell Bartman will take charge of the bowling, having taken 14 wickets in 10 matches.
Ramandeep Singh ready for debut
Speculations about the debut of young all-rounder Ramandeep Singh in the first match have intensified. Ramandeep caught everyone’s attention with his excellent performance in the Emerging Asia Cup 2024. Apart from this, he has won the trust of the selectors by showing excellent performance for Kolkata Knight Riders in the IPL. If he gets a chance, it can prove to be a big step forward for the Indian team, especially against a challenging team like South Africa.
Pitch Report: Helpful for bowlers
Durban’s Kingsmead Cricket Ground has always been favorable for bowlers. The pitch here is considered bowling friendly, where fast bowlers get help. So far, a total of 22 T-20 International matches have been played here, out of which 11 matches have been won by the team batting first. At the same time, the team bowling first has won in 9 matches. 2 matches remained inconclusive due to rain. In such a situation, the team winning the toss may prefer to bat first so that it can get the advantage of understanding the condition of the pitch later.
Weather Report: Chance of some rain
The weather in Durban is expected to be clear on match day, although there is a 10% chance of rain with some clouds. The temperature will be between 20 to 24 degrees Celsius, which will provide a cool environment to the players. Cricket fans are hoping that rain does not affect the match, so that they can enjoy an exciting match.
Probable playing-11
India: Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Verma, Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Ramandeep Singh, Axar Patel, Varun Chakraborty/Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Avesh Khan.
South Africa: Aiden Markram (captain), Reeza Hendricks, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, Heinrich Klaasen (wicketkeeper), David Miller, Donovan Ferreira, Marco Yanson, Gerald Coetzee, Otnel Baartman, Lutho Sipamla.
Where to watch live match?
Indian viewers can watch the live action of this T-20 series on Sports18 TV channel. Apart from this, live streaming will also be available on Jio Cinema app and website. Live coverage is also available for viewers to enjoy on Dainik Bhaskar App.
India’s preparation, South Africa’s challenge
This series is important for both the teams in many ways. On one hand, the aim of the Indian team is to strengthen their position by winning this series, while on the other hand, South Africa would like to take revenge for the previous defeat against the Indian team. Looking at the records and form between the two teams, a tough match can be expected. In such a situation, it will be interesting to see which team wins on the Durban ground.
Thus, this T20 series between India and South Africa is not only important for the reputation of both the teams, but it will also prove to be an entertaining experience for cricket lovers.
