South Africa vs India  2018: 5 Players to watch out for in the T20I series decider

After close to 50 days of cricketing action in South Africa, India and South Africa meet for the final time at Newlands for the T20 Series decider, the same venue where the first match of India’s long tour was played. Initially when India lost the first two tests, hardly anyone gave India a chance on the tour to perform so well as they eventually did, winning as many as 7 matches out of the 11 they have played so far. With one match to go, India are definitely the happier side going to the decider on Saturday.

On the other hand, South Africa won the Test Series but have rarely posed a threat to India’s fantastic run in the limited overs leg so far. But going into the final T20I, South Africa will have immense confidence in their abilities having chased down 189 successfully in the second T20I at the SuperSport Park, Centurion. In the series decider then, Virat Kohli will want to go back home with two trophies. For JP Duminy-led South Africa, a win in the final will give them boost and zeal after a series in which they have battled injuries to key players and some poor on-field outings.

#1 David Miller

David Miller's return to form can help win South Africa the series

David Miller has looked a pale shadow of himself in the limited-overs matches. He was dismissed for single digit scores in the first two T20Is and didn’t perform as per reputation even in the ODI series. All eyes would be on him to perform since he hasn’t been among the runs lately. If Miller comes to form in the South Africa middle order, it would become a formidable batting order and India will have a tough time going past beyond that batting order.

#2 Rohit Sharma

Rohit Sharma has underperformed in the tour so far.

It is fair to say that Rohit Sharma has underperformed in the tour except for his one knock in the ODI series. Even in the T20I series, he has failed to achieve what he is truly capable of and he is due one big innings in the series. Rohit Sharma’s contribution at the top of order provides a great opportunity for the Indian middle-order studded with stroke makers like Suresh Raina, Virat Kohli, Manish Pandey and MS Dhoni to explode and end the innings on a high. Rohit Sharma’s innings could well be the difference in the series decider at Newlands.

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#3 Heinrich Klaasen

Klaasen has been in fine form this series

South Africa have found quite a talent in Heinrich Klaasen who has been the star of the South African side in the T20 series so far, the only person who has been able to successfully take the attack to the opposition. If the wicketkeeper-batsman takes his form into the final T20I, South Africa’s chances of winning the series will definitely increase with the kind of cricket that Klaasen has played so far. South Africa would hope that their in-form batsman continues to score runs in the final T20I and more importantly, takes the threat of the wrist spinners away.

#4 Virat Kohli

India's Virat Kohli is close to becoming only the third player to score 2000 runs in T20 Internationals

Indian skipper is close to becoming only the third person in the world to score 2000 runs in T20 Internationals. Gauging from his hunger for runs, he would love to celebrate his achievement by playing a match-winning innings in the series decider. The big match player Virat Kohli can tear apart any bowling opposition on his day and once he gets going, there is not much one can do as an opposing captain. India would definitely hope that Kohli makes it big in the final T20I.

#5 Yuzvendra Chahal

Chahal's performance might determine the result of the much anticipated clash

It would be a test of character for the Indian wrist spinner in the final T20I when he comes in to bowl, coming after the back of a bad game in Centurian. But Virat Kohli’s trusted weapon in limited overs cricket, Chahal’s performance would be under scrutiny in the final T20I, if Chahal makes the ball talk in the last game, India would definitely have a great time in the final T20I.