Bengaluru: After winning the second T20I quite comfortably, India will look to seal the three-match (T20I) series against South Africa with a win, here at M Chinnaswamy Stadium on Sunday.
The first game in Dharmashala was washed out while Deepak Chahar and Virat Kohli helped India register a comprehensive win over the Proteas in second match in Mohali, giving them a 1-0 lead in the series.
On the other hand, South Africa will hope to get their first win under Quinton De Kock’s captaincy and level the series. However, it won’t be easy for task for them against the in-form Indian team.
With another 25 T20Is to play before the T20 World Cup, India will look to provide chances to every player in the squad and might choose to go with the same team.
India skipper Virat Kohli, who overtook Rohit Sharma as the highest run-getter in T20Is in the last match with a superb unbeaten 72, will look to carry his form into the final game of the series.
Shikhar Dhawan was also back in form with a very smooth 40-run innings while Shreyas Iyer didn’t get much time in the middle although he looked in good touch in the limited game time he had.
However, Wicketkeeper-batsman Rishabh Pant will once again be under the scanner after a disappointing performance with the bat in Mohali.
In bowling, Deepak Chahar, who impressed everyone with his bowling in the second T20I, will be looking to cement his place in the squad ahead of the ICC T20 World Cup to be held in Australia next year. He was India’s best bowler in the last match, taking two wickets for 22 runs in his four overs.
India might decide to give Rahul Chahar a go in this match as Washington Sundar might make way for the leggie.
Meanwhile, Proteas will be determined to win this match and get something from this series. Experienced players like Rassie van der Dussen and David Miller need to step up and take the onus on themselves to finish well while Temba Bavuma needs to pace his innings better.
In the bowling department, no bowler barring Kagiso Rabada really posed any threat to the Indian batsmen but they’re likely to give the bowlers another go and name an unchanged XI. (UNI)
