T20 Series: Match 1
Stadium: Hollywoodbets Kingsmead Stadium Cricket Ground, Durban, South Africa
8th November 2024
South Africa and India are going head to head in the Match 1 of T20 Series at Hollywoodbets Kingsmead Stadium Cricket Ground, Durban, South Africa on 8th November 2024. Indian bowlers are inexperienced in playing in South Africa. Who will win this game of cricket?
Receive Your Welcome Bonus!South Africa form
Aiden Markram and his team are looking to banish the memories of the final of the World Cup-a game which they were so well poised to win but were unable to deliver the needed application in the backend. Since the debacle, the side has gained confidence as a unit and Markram hopes his men will capitalize on their home advantage in the next game.
There appears to be a good hand at the start with the opening pair Ryan Rickelton and Reeza Hendricks. Markram himself, coupled with the support of Tristan Stubbs and David Miller, will then score runs in the middle, and Heinrich Klaasen will then be handed over to finish well, in this case, supported by the last overs from Patrick Kruger and Gerald Coetzee.
The bowling attack will be spearheaded by Gerald Coetzee and Ottneil Baartman, who will have to make early breakthroughs as the Indians do have a very strong top-order batting lineup. The most experienced bowler in the side is Keshav Maharaj who has to keep tight lines alongside Markram during the middle overs. Nqabayomzi Peter and Patrick Kruger will form a solid bowling attack to the team.
South Africa Predicted Lineup
Aiden Markram (c), Reeza Hendricks, Ryan Rickelton (wk), David Miller, Patrick Kruger, Heinrich Klaasen, Gerald Coetzee, Ottneil Baartman, Tristan Stubbs, Keshav Maharaj, Nqabayomzi Peter
India form
Saying that Suryakumar Yadav's team is under pressure in this game would be a statement quite less than the description. Although their lone loss in 23 T20 games in 2019 saw the team go into the unprecedented Test Series defeat against New Zealand. They do not have the best record playing on South African soils, so the pressure on Yadav will be mounting further on him to deliver with his inexperienced side in the series. The opening pair of Sanju Samson and Abhishek Sharma will set the tone for the Indian side, and Suryakumar Yadav's job will be crucial partnerships with Hardik Pandya and Tilak Varma in the middle order. The batting order is deep, with quick runs coming from Rinku Singh, Ramandeep Singh, and Axar Patel. On the bowling front, the Indian bowlers have the huge task of executing the plans against a very potent South African batting line-up. Early breakthroughs for Hardik Pandya and Arshdeep Singh will be needed, while Axar Patel and Varun Chakravarthy will aim to strangle the middle overs with their spin. Roles of Abhishek Sharma, Avesh Khan and Ramandeep Singh will also play a critical role in deciding the success of the team.
Predicted India Lineup
Suryakumar Yadav (c), Sanju Samson (wk), Abhishek Sharma, Hardik Pandya, Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Varun Chakravarthy, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Avesh Khan, Ramandeep Singh
South Africa vs India Expert Tips & Prediction
India boasts of a very strong batting line-up, however, bowling line-up of the country is full of young and inexperienced players. For one thing, most of the bowlers haven't played much cricket in South African conditions, and the batting order seems better to find more ways to counter a predominantly spin-based bowling attack. South Africa has a very strong batting lineup and bowling attack well suited to the conditions. We expect that the match is going to be tight, but taking into consideration home advantage, South Africa is going to be on top as a winner.