India is getting ready for the T20 World Cup 2024 by playing three matches against South Africa. These games are part of the six matches India plans to play before the ICC event in the West Indies and the USA. Following this series, India will have three matches against Afghanistan before the players dive into the IPL.
India is entering the contest with confidence after winning the series against Australia 4–1. They are also welcoming back some key players from the World Cup 2023, including Shubman Gill, Mohammed Siraj, and Kuldeep Yadav.
South Africa has opted to rest many of their star players for this series, and they faced an additional setback as Lungi Ngidi had to withdraw due to injury on December 8.
Let's take a look at the expected lineups for the match:
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For India, the major question revolves around the opening batters. Ruturaj Gaikwad, the top run-scorer in the series against Australia, might face competition from Shubman Gill, who has excelled as an opener in T20Is.
India is also happy to have Siraj and Ravindra Jadeja back, but Axar Patel is not in the squad, and Deepak Chahar is staying back due to his father's illness. Despite these changes, the core of the team is expected to remain consistent with the lineup from the 5th T20I against Australia.
South Africa may introduce Matthew Breetzke, potentially for his debut, to open alongside Reeza Hendricks. Captain Aiden Markram might move up to No.3, followed by Heinrich Klaasen and Tristian Stubbs. The bowling lineup is anticipated to be formidable, with Marco Jansen, Gerald Coetzee, and Keshav Maharaj leading the pack.
This series promises an exciting contest as both teams fine-tune their strategies ahead of the T20 World Cup.
India
Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav (C), Rinku Singh, Jitesh Sharma (WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Mukesh Kumar, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh.
South Africa
Reeza Hendricks, Matthew Breetzke, Aiden Markram (C), Heinrich Klaasen, Tristian Stubbs, David Miller, Marco Jansen, Gerald Coetzee, Keshav Maharaj, Lizaad Williams, Tabraiz Shamsi
India squad
Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Rinku Singh, Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan (wicket-keeper), Jitesh Sharma (wicket-keeper), Ravindra Jadeja (vice-captain), Washington Sundar, Ravi Bishnoi, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Mohd Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, and Deepak Chahar.
South Africa squad
Aiden Markram (C), Ottniel Baartman, Matthew Breetzke, Nandre Burger, Gerald Coetzee (1st and 2nd T20Is), Donovan Ferreira, Reeza Hendricks, Marco Jansen (1st and 2nd T20Is), Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, David Miller, Beuren Hendricks, Andile Phehlukwayo, Tabraiz Shamsi, Tristan Stubbs, and Lizaad Williams.
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