India began their ICC World T20 preparations on a high with a thumping 45-run victory over West Indies during their first warm-up game played on March 10 at the Eden Gardens, Kolkata.
Also read: ICC T20 World Cup LIVE Streaming: Why there is no live streaming of India warm-up matches
Rohit Sharma top-scored for India with an unbeaten 98, while Mohammad Shami, returning from injury, picked up two wickets in what looked like a promising spell.
India have one more warm-up match to play before their main round games begin on March 15 with the clash against New Zealand.
The home side would play South Africa in their second warm-up game to be held on March 12 at the Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai.
India vs South Africa ICC World T20 warm-up: Date, time, venue
Date: March 12, Saturday
Time: 07:30 PM IST
Venue: Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai.
Team News
India
It seems like nothing can possibly go wrong for India at the moment, as all of their horses are running on the right courses. The top order has been firing on all cylinders, a testimony of which was Rohit Sharma’s knock in the last warm-up game, and Shikhar Dhawan’s half-century in the Asia Cup final.
As for the bowlers, the biggest takeaway from the previous warm-up game against West Indies would be the return of Mohammad Shami, who played his first international fixture for India since the 2015 ICC Cricket World Cup. He returned with figures of 2/30 from his 4 overs.
India would look to give all members of their squad a proper practice before the tournament opener against New Zealand, hence, the players such as Virat Kohli, Ashish Nehra, and captain MS Dhoni himself would look to have a go.
South Africa
Although the Proteas lost the bilateral series against Australia 1-2, they have had many positives to take away from that tournament, the most recent of which was Hashim Amla’s unbeaten 97 in the 3rd T20I in Centurion.
Faf du Plessis, David Miller, Quinton de Kock et al have played crucial knocks and have got themselves into the groove for the World T20 just in time.
Their concern, however, would be their bowling, as, on two occasions, scores in excess of 170 were successfully hunted down by the Australians, including a score in excess of 200.
The scarcity of enough spinners in their squad might also become an issue, as Imran Tahir is the only specialist spinner who has considerable experience of playing in the subcontinent. The other spinner in their squad is Aaron Phangiso.
Squads
India: Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina, Yuvraj Singh, MS Dhoni (C & WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Hardik Pandya, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ashish Nehra, Jasprit Bumrah, Ajinkya Rahane, Harbhajan Singh, Mohammad Shami, Pawan Negi.
South Africa: Faf du Plessis (C), Hashim Amla, Quinton de Kock (wk), Jean-Paul Duminy, David Miller, Aaron Phangiso, Rilee Rossouw, David Wiese, Kyle Abbott, Farhaan Behardien, AB de Villiers, Imran Tahir, Chris Morris, Kagiso Rabada, Dale Steyn.
Pitch & Conditions
India would not like to remember the last game that they played against the Proteas at the Wankhede Stadium. The Indian bowlers were plundered all over the park as South Africa had amassed 438 runs in the 5th ODI of the bilateral series played last year.
The pitch hasn’t changed since, to be honest, as was evident during the Ranji Trophy games and the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy matches that were played there. It is expected to be a batting paradise, and the contest is expected to be a high-scoring one.
Recent Form
India: W-W-W-W-W (most recent first)
South Africa: L-L-W-W-W
Key Stats
- The last time Quinton de Kock, AB de Villiers, and Faf du Plessis played at the Wankhede, each of them scored a hundred. It was the 5th ODI of the bilateral series played between the two nations last year.
- India have never defeated South Africa in a T20I played in India.
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