T20 World Cup: India vs. South Africa - 5 factors that can decide the outcome

Let us have a look at the 5 key factors that can decide the winner of 2nd World Cup T20 semi-final match between India and South Africa at the Sher-e-Bangla stadium in Mirpur, Bangladesh.

#1 Sher-e-Bangla National Stadium, Mirpur

With the fixture to be held at the Sher-E-Bangla National Stadium, India have an advantage over South Africa, as the MS Dhoni-led team have played all their Super 10 matches at the same venue, while South Africa have flown in from Chittagong, where the Group 1 Super 10 matches were played.

India have used the surface well, and their spinners have been amongst the wickets. Amit Mishra, in particular, has been in scintillating form, spinning a web around the batsmen with his googlies, leg-spinners and flippers.

#2 The spin-trio

The performance of the Indian spin-trio of Ravichandran Ashwin, Amit Mishra and Ravindra Jadeja will pretty much decide the fate of the match. The fact that they have managed to restrict all their oppositions in Super 10 stage to scores of under 140 shows the quality of bowling attack they possess.

Dealing with the Indian spinners will be the biggest challenge for South Africa.

#3 AB de Villiers

The South African middle-order batsman AB de Villiers has found form just about the right time, and, if he decides to go bonkers just like he did in the match against England by scoring a 28-ball 63, Indian bowling, with the exception of Amit Mishra, will be ripped apart. While JP Duminy and Hashim Amla are also in good form, it is AB de Villers who can turn the match on its head.

#4 Dale Steyn

Dale Steyn, in the last 2-3 years, has become as menacing in limited overs cricket as he is with the red cherry in hand.

The pace bowler defended 7 runs in the last over to pull off an incredible victory against New Zealand in the league stage. It is no rocket science that he will be testing the likes of Suresh Raina and Yuvraj Singh with the 145-kmph bouncers, and that could rattle them irrespective of how good a form they are in. India would be hoping that Virat Kohli and Mahendra Singh Dhoni will be facing majority of Steyn's deliveries to counter him.

#5 MS Dhoni

MS Dhoni needs to be more proactive on the day and play him in such a manner that Raina and Yuvraj are not exposed too much to Steyn. If it needs him to be promoted to number 4, he needs to do it, as the two southpaws would have little clue if Steyn targets their throat. Let us not forget that Yuvraj has issues countering spin bowling, too.