India Vs South Africa, Optus Stadium, Perth - ICC Men's T20 World Cup 2022; Match Preview
India and South Africa meet again after going head to head in a 3 match series in India just before the World Cup started which India took 2-1. The stakes are high in this game especially for South Africa since their first game against Zimbabwe was washed out. India sit pretty with 2 wins from 2 and top the Group 2 but cannot get complacent just yet.
Rohit Sharma finally got some form back with a 50 against the Netherlands but KL Rahul looks out of sorts and short of confidence right now. Kohli and SKY have found their touch though and India will hope that they can continue with their rich vein of form. The lower middle order hasn't been tested yet but Perth should give them that opportunity.
The Proteas top order is firing on all cylinders with Quinton deKock and Rillee Rossouw both in cracking form. Although their skipper Temba Bavuma is under serious fire for the lack of runs. Markram and Stubbs also haven't exactly spent enough time in the middle but they've not got the opportunity to do that as the first match was abandoned and the second was all Rillee and QDK.
South African pace bowlers would be licking their lips at the Perth track which has offered generous pace and steep bounce along with subtle movement off the deck. They might opt to sit out Shamsi and play a pace quartret of Rabada, Nortje, Ngidi and one of Parnell or Jansen. Jansen on this track might be nigh on unplayable and I would like to see him start.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar was on fire against the Netherlands and Arshdeep rattled the Pakistani batting in the opening game so India seem to have enough cover in fast bowling department of their own. Shami has been underwhelming but he should find Perth to his liking as well. Hardik Pandya would also love to bowl here since his stock ball is the short one. India too might consider replacing Axar Patel with Harshal Patel to give them an extra seam option.
Key Battles: India vs South Africa
KL Rahul and Rohit Sharma Vs Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi
Virat Kohli Vs Anrich Nortje
Quinton deKock and Rillee Rossouw Vs Bhuvaneshwar Kumar and Arshdeep Singh
India have one foot in the semi finals but they are mathematically not there yet. Also, South Africa need a win here to progress so they will play hard and they've the resources that fit the ground and conditions better than India. We should have a great game at Perth, where a total of 140-150 has been very competitive.
Probable India XI
Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Dinesh Karthik, Axar Patel, R Ashwin, Bhuvaneshwar Kumar, Arshdeep Singh, Mohammad Shami
Probable South Africa XI
Quinton de Kock, Temba Bavuma, Rilee Rossouw, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Wayne Parnell/ Marco Jensen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Lungi Ngidi
Top 5 Fantasy Picks for India v South Africa at Optus Stadium, Perth
Kagiso Rabada
Suryakumar Yadav
Arshadeep Singh
Anrich Nortje
Rillee Rossouw
The match will start at 04.30 PM IST (streamed live on Disney Hotstar app & on TV on Star Sports 1)
How do you think India will fare at their first game at Perth? Will South Africa keep their semi final hopes alive with a win?
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