South Africa vs India Prediction: South Africa lead the series 1-0

South Africa and India are going head to head in the 3rd and final match of T20 Series at Wanderers Stadium, South Africa on 14 Dec 2023. India lost the second game in a rain affected affair and will be looking to level up the series in the last game. Who will win this game of cricket?

South Africa made some interesting decisions in the previous match and based on their success, it is likely that they will not make any changes for the upcoming match. The top-6 batsmen performed as expected and almost all of them had a good showing. Each player who came to bat had a strike rate of 140 or higher and hit at least one six, except for Stubbs who remained not out. Additionally, none of the batsmen seemed to be in any trouble at the crease. Aiden Markram stood out as the best performer with the bat and could be a key player in scoring another big total in the next match. It should be noted that South Africa had fewer sixes than India in the previous match due to the reduced number of overs.

When it comes to the bowlers, Lizaad Williams and Geral Coetzee took wickets, but it was the spinners who effectively controlled the run rate. Marco Jansen had a somewhat underwhelming start despite taking an early wicket. Unfortunately, both Coetzee and Jansen will not be available for the third match and will likely be replaced by Nandre Burger and Ottniel Baartman.

We had expected South Africa to put up a strong fight against India, and they certainly did. In fact, they managed to secure a victory without even playing at their best, which is quite impressive.

Reeza Hendricks, Matthew Breetzke, Aiden Markram (C), Heinrich Klaasen (WK), David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Marco Jansen, Gerald Coetzee, Keshav Maharaj, Lizaad Williams, Tabraiz Shamsi

India faced a challenging start to their tour of South Africa as both their openers were dismissed without scoring any runs, revealing the vulnerability of their lower batting order. However, it was commendable to witness their aggressive play, resulting in a competitive total. While Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma performed well, it was Rinku Singh who truly stood out. Singh made an impressive 68 runs not out off just 39 balls after joining the innings when India was three wickets down during the powerplay. It is clear that Singh should be a permanent fixture in India's middle order. Despite the surprise decision to drop Shreyas Iyer for Tilak Varma, it is hoped that India will continue with the same batting order in the upcoming match. Even the underperforming players from the previous match are highly skilled and capable of turning their fortunes around. India's strong batting lineup should be able to score enough runs to secure another victory. However, the crucial aspect to focus on is improving their bowling performance. Mohammad Siraj and Mukesh Kumar showcased excellent skills in challenging conditions, but Arshdeep Singh's poor performance in recent matches makes it likely that he will be replaced. Despite Jadeja and Kuldeep bowling well, the unfavorable conditions limited their effectiveness. The upcoming match in Johannesburg, which is known for its high-scoring nature, may provide more opportunities for spinners to make an impact.

Shubman Gill, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav (C), Rinku Singh, Jitesh Sharma (WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammed Siraj, Mukesh Kumar

The team that wins the coin toss would prefer to field first. It is interesting to note that 53.13% of the matches have been won by the team that chases, indicating that the playing conditions are fairly balanced for both teams. Surprisingly, 59% of the matches have been won by the team that lost the toss.

The weather forecast for Johannesburg is excellent, with a very low chance of rain. This gives hope that we will finally be able to witness a complete and uninterrupted match. The Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg is known for its excellent batting pitch, being one of the best in the world. The average score in 32 T20 international matches at this venue is 179. The highest score achieved is 260, and successful chases of 236 have also been made. Expect a high-scoring match with plenty of boundaries, sixes, and half-centuries. These are all betting markets that can provide opportunities.

Despite bookmakers considering South Africa as the underdogs, we find this surprising. Even the absence of two key bowlers does not change our stance. In our opinion, India is the clear underdog in this match, and the odds being offered reflect a market gap. While India's batting lineup is strong, their bowling lineup is relatively weak. On the other hand, South Africa is better balanced and better suited to the playing conditions. Take advantage of the odds being offered and bet on South Africa to win the game and the series.