Match Preview - South Africa vs India: India square off against Proteas

India hasn’t had a good record in South Africa when it comes to shorter format of the game. India’s two devastating tours on the trot have them on the back foot. But Asia Cup’s show should have lifted the morale in the team. The show with the bat was decent in the Asia Cup as it was a typical sub-continental track. Most of India’s victories for the past couple of years were achieved by the youngsters against top ODI teams. But still India has a major concern in handling short-balls especially in South Africa. That was the problem when the Indians toured South Africa last year and Virat Kohli and skipper Dhoni were the only ones who offered resistance to the short balls. With Wayne Parnell in the South African side, the Indians could be in trouble.

Both sides have rested their premium players. Indians have rested attacking opener Sehwag and pacer Zaheer Khan who failed to impress in Australia. On the other hand, the South Africans have rested AB de Villers and vice-captain Hashim Amla. But sad news for the South Africans is that they do not have Gibbs in the squad. But with Kallis’s will play despite from a neck problem, though the scan revealed that there was a small tear.

Good thing for India is that they will be led as usual by Mahendra Singh Dhoni. But on the other hand, no Dale Steyn to the squad will be a challenge for South Africa against India. But his absence will not cost them too much, as Parnell, Tsotsobe and Albie Morkel will balance the pace-attack.

India’s record against South Africa in T20 internationals:

March 1 2006 at Johannesburg

Result: India won by 6 wickets

Brief Scores: SA 126/9, lost to India 127/4

Best batsmen: Dines Mongia (38), Dinesh Karthik (31)

March 2, 2007 at kingsmead Durban

Result: India won by 37 runs

Scores: Ind 153/5 beat South Africa 116/9

Best batsmen: Rohit Sharma (50) and Dhoni (45)

March 3, 2009 at Trent bridge Nottingham

Result: SA won by 12 runs

Brief scores: SA 130/5 beat India 118/8

Best batsmen: AB de Villers (63) and Rohit Sharma (29)

March 4, 2010, at St. Lucia

Result: Ind won by 14 runs

Scores: Ind 186/5, SA 172/5

Best Batsmen: Raina (101), Kallis (73)

Match 5, 2011, Durban

Result: Ind won by 21 runs

Scores: Ind 168/6, SA 147/9

Best Batsmen: van Wyk (67), Rohit Sharma (53)

Match details:

Venue: Johannesburg.

Timings: 9:00 pm IST.

Channels telecasting: Ten Cricket, Ten HD and Ten Sports.

Probable Playing XI

South Africa: Johan Botha (C), Jacques Kallis, Collin Ingram, Albie Morkel, Justin Ontong, Wayne Parnell, Richard Levi, Farhaan Behardien, Faf du Plessis, Dane Vilas and Lonwabo Tsotsobe.

India: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (C), Gautaum Gambhir, Ravindra Jadeja, Virat Kohli, Robin Uthappa, Yusuf Pathan, Irfan Pathan, Praveen Kumar, Ashok Dinda, Ravichandran Ashwin and Rahul Sharma.

Players to watch out for:

Wayne Parnell: He has been the wicket taking bowler for South Africa especially in the shorter format. The wicket is expected to have good pace and bounce, he can trouble the Indians with short-pitched deliveries

Virat Kohli: He has been the in-form batsmen for India. He has the potential to do well against top ODI teams. Though the wicket is not expected to be in favour of him, he has the ability to put up a good show.