India Aims to Address Batting Woes in 3rd T20I Against South Africa

The India tour of South Africa has now reached Centurion for the 3rd T20I of the series, with the contest tied at 1-1. The first two matches have seen a rollercoaster of performances in the batting department for both teams. India, who posted a strong 200+ total in the opening T20I, struggled to cross 130 in the second. On the other hand, South Africa, having faced batting troubles throughout the series, continued to struggle against spin in the second T20I but held their nerve to chase down the target and level the series. With both teams looking to improve their inconsistent batting, here’s a preview of the crucial South Africa vs India 3rd T20I.

What to Expect from Supersport Park, Centurion

Supersport Park in Centurion is renowned for offering a pitch that provides pace, bounce, and a fair contest between bat and ball. Known to be fast-bowler-friendly, the track generally rewards aggressive seam and pace bowling, especially early on, with the ball coming through at good speed. However, the conditions can also favor the batsmen, particularly as the game progresses, with the surface tending to ease out a bit.

In T20Is, the ground’s smaller boundaries and quick outfield often encourage big hitting, making it an exciting venue for fast-paced cricket. Spinners can also come into play if the game extends into the later overs, especially if there’s any sign of wear on the pitch.

Given the stakes of the 3rd T20I, expect a balanced contest where the teams will need to adjust their tactics based on the conditions. Batting first could be a good option but chasing should not be ruled out, especially with the dew factor often coming into play in the evening.

T20 Stats from Supersport Park

• Matches: 14
• Batting First: 7
• Batting Second:7
• Average Score: 180
• Highest Score: 258/5 by West Indies
• Lowest Score: 100 by South Africa 

Team’s Preview

India had an impressive start to the series with their batting, but their performance in the Second T20I fell short. There was a stark contrast in the batting order's performance. Sanju Samson, who scored a century in the first T20I, was dismissed for a duck in the second. Abhishek Sharma, who had previously scored a century against Zimbabwe, has struggled since then, consistently posting low scores. He is attempting to play aggressively from the very first ball, but in doing so, he seems to be neglecting his fundamental skills. While he has a solid skill set, his current intent is costing him his wicket. 

Sanju Samson, who had the momentum from back-to-back centuries, also fell victim to this mindset, attempting a big shot and getting bowled by Marco Jansen for a duck. The captain, too, was dismissed cheaply, struggling to find his rhythm. 

Although Tilak Varma, Axar Patel, and Hardik Pandya steadied the innings, the death overs did not go as planned, despite India having four wickets in hand. Hardik Pandya played one of the slowest innings of his career. The South African bowlers executed their plans effectively, adapting to the pitch conditions and managing to restrict India. 

India may consider bringing Ramandeep Singh into the squad. With Hardik Pandya lacking a supportive partner during the death overs, many singles were missed. Tilak Varma and Axar Patel in the lower middle order did not perform when needed, so Ramandeep Singh could be expected to play. His presence could provide India with the finishing capability they require. On a positive note, India’s bowling has been very effective, with Varun Chakravarthy leading the attack, and they will look to maintain this performance in the third T20I.South Africa Will Look to Revamp Their Entire Line Up Ahead

As South Africa heads into the 3rd T20I against India, they will be looking to make key adjustments to their line-up after struggling to match up to the Indian side in the first two matches of the series. The team showed signs of resilience in the last T20I, managing to hold their nerves and secure a win, thanks to some crucial batting from Tristan Stubbs. However, their top-order batsmen have yet to find form, with key players like Heinrich Klaasen failing to counter India’s spinners effectively. This remains one of the major issues South Africa will aim to address in the upcoming match.

Additionally, South Africa’s ongoing struggle to build partnerships has been another area of concern, undermining their ability to post strong totals. With the series tied at 1-1, the pressure is on to fix these issues quickly. We can expect changes to the batting line-up, as the team seeks to find a winning combination and deliver a more cohesive performance in the 3rd T20I.

Probable Starting 11

India: Sanju Samson(wk), Abhishek Sharma, Surya Kumar Yadav(c), Hardik Pandya, Ramandeep Singh, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Varun Chakravarthy, Arshdeep Singh, Avesh Khan,

South Africa: Aiden Markaram(c), Ryan Rickelton, Heinrich Klassen, Marco Jansen, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs(wk), Donanvan Ferreira, Andile Simelane, Gerald Coetzee, Keshav Maharaj, Ottneil Bartman