Underperforming spinners, an out-of-form opener, and his own poor performance, stand-in skipper Rishabh Pant will have a lot on his mind when India takes on a buoyant South Africa in the third T20I on Tuesday in Vishakapatnam. After losses in the first two games, they will be fighting to keep the five-match series alive.
India came into the series on a 12-match winning streak but South Africa took the wind out of India's sails with two crushing defeats. Pant's side is now struggling on multiple fronts and it would take a herculean effort to plug the holes with just one day between the second and third games.
If bowling let India down in the first match, a poor batting show cost them the second match and now they have their backs to the wall. India's batting left a lot to be desired with the openers failing to give the team a good start in the powerplay. While Ishan Kishan has done well so far, Ruturaj Gaikwad (23, 1) has let the team down.
Hardik Pandya, who was in sensational form for Gujarat Titans in the IPL, produced some big hits when the team was in a comfortable position in the first T20 but he couldn't get going on the two-paced Cuttack track. He also failed to impress with the ball and has leaked 49 runs in the four overs that he bowled across the two matches.
Pant's captaincy under scanner
Pushed into captaincy, Pant (29, 5) has not fired so far. He has only three fifties in 45 T20Is with an average of 23.9 and a strike rate of 126.6. As someone, who is touted as a future leader, Pant has not inspired enough confidence with his leadership abilities.
His decision to promote Axar Patel over designated finisher and the experienced Dinesh Karthik in the second game was baffling, to say the least. Going into the World Cup in Australia later this year, a lot will be expected from the wicketkeeper batter, who can win matches single-handedly and he will look to produce an inspired show on Tuesday.
Spin woes
In bowling, the spin duo of Yuzvendra Chahal and Axar Patel have been a big letdown as they went for 75 and 59 in six and five overs in the two matches and the axe is likely to fall on one of them going into the third game.
Chahal, who was the purple cap holder in the IPL, and Axar were put under the pump with the likes of David Miller, Rassie van der Dussen and Heinrich Klassen feasting on their pedestrian bowling.
With the duo flopping, it needs to be seen whether the team management gives young leggie Ravi Bishnoi or allrounder Venkatesh Iyer, who also opens for Kolkata Knight Riders in IPL, a chance in the middle.
The hosts, save Bhuvneshwar Kumar, have looked bereft of ideas of getting breakthroughs as India picked just four wickets in the opening game and six in the second match with the leading seamer from Meerut doing most of the damage.
Indian bowlers have the propensity to concede runs in a heap in one or two overs which completely undo the work done in the previous overs and they will need to tighten their game to salvage hopes of saving the series.
India's think-tank might also look to unleash the express pace of Umran Malik on South Africa or get Arshdeep Singh in place of Avesh Khan, who is yet to take a wicket in the series.
South Africa, on the other hand, have looked like a well-oiled machine with both their bowlers and batters working in partnerships.
If Miller and van der Dussen took it away with a stellar show in the first T20, comeback man Klassen proved to be the difference on Sunday with his fluent 81-run innings on a tricky wicket.
Skipper Temba Bavuma also played the perfect foil to Klassen to script SA's recovery.
In bowling, the likes of Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje and Wayne Parnell have hunted in a pack.
Teams
India
Rishabh Pant (c & wk), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ishan Kishan, Deepak Hooda, Shreyas Iyer, Dinesh Karthik, Hardik Pandya, Venkatesh Iyer, Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Harshal Patel, Avesh Khan, Arshdeep Singh, Umran Malik.
South Africa
Temba Bavuma (c), Quinton de Kock (wk), Reeza Hendricks, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Wayne Parnell, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Tristan Stubbs, Rassie van der Dussen, Marco Jansen.
