This T20 World Cup 2022 has already produced some remarkable games. India vs Pakistan, New Zealand vs Australia, Zimbabwe vs West Indies, Pakistan vs Zimbabwe and so on. The tournament just gets better and better as we come to the halfway stage. Another co ntest that has the potential to live up to the same billing awaits us in India vs South Africa clash. By looking at how the Super 12 stage has panned out in Group 2, these are two favourites to make the semifinals. These are two confident sides who have shown all-round skills in whatever little game time they have got so far.
India had an easy game vs Netherlands. Men in Orange had them under pressure in some situations but overall, India did put up a dominant game to become victors in the end. But South Africa is a big challenge for them. This is a side in which almost all players are in form. Their bowling especially has been in top gear. Look at the names: Kagiso Rabada, Wayne Parnell, Anrich Nortje, Keshav Maharaj, Tabraiz Shamsi. They have all their bases covered there. Proteas men have pace, spin and lots of variety. Rabada and Nortje bring pace to the table, Parnell can swing the ball, Shamsi is outstanding in his skills and Maharaj despite being another left-arm spinner in the side is a completely different bowler. SA’s bowling gives an added edge to them going into this contest.
Not to forget, they have one of the strongest batting units in this competition, only chink in the armour being Temba Bavuma, in his current form. He desperately needs some runs and it would only further strengthen the South African team. But leave him aside for a moment and you have Quinton de Kock who is in the form of his life. His confidence is at an all-time high after a lean patch. His role will be crucial to South Africa’s campaign in this World Cup. We all saw what Rilee Rossouw can do, with two back-to-back hundreds, he is one of the best at the No 3 slot in the world. Bats for long and scores faster. Tristan Stubbs and Aiden Markram are match winners. They are followed by David Miller, who has rediscovered a unique form since the IPL 2022. He is a top-class finisher and South Africa are never out of the match until he is there in the middle. These batters form a very strong middle order.
India should do two changes in their XI for SA
India are on song right now. Two wins in two matches so far and they sit comfortably at the top. They have ticked many boxes in these matches, including form of their senior pros in Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Kohli’s form, in particular, is a huge boost to him and the team. It is also a threat to the opponents. He has got his form back just at the right moment, which is what we identify with champion players. Rohit and team management should be lauded to have stuck with him when he went through a lean patch. Global tournaments need players of such class and
caliber and Kohli has lifted his game at the right time.
Rohit’s runs will be vital for India. An in-form captain can lift the team’s morale in the dressing room and that is why South Africa need Bavuma to get runs as well. Suryakumar Yadav has looked in great touch and the fact that he bats at No. 4 means he does not necessarily is there to just finish the innings but also help construct it.
I would like to see Rishabh Pant back in playing XI. South Africa have Shamsi in their team and left-handers generally play him way better. Shamsi bowls well to right-handed batters, encouraging them to hit to a well packed and fortified leg side, leaving the off side hard to access. A left-hander in the middle order would be beneficial for India, in that regard. I would also like to see Yuzvendra Chahal play. His trickery might work against a side who generally play spin pretty well. Additionally, a wrist spinner of his class is always of huge value to any team.
India need to do one more thing differently with their pace attack, not in terms of changing their arsenal but changing their plans instead. They should open with Mohammed Shami and Bhuvneshwar Kumar and let Arshdeep Singh bowl as first change. Shami with the new ball could be a game-changer against a top order which is in very good form. That contest would be worth the watch. Shami has this ability to bowl wicket taking deliveries at the start and he might make an early impact with the brand-new ball.
One more thing that needs mentioning is that these two sides know a lot about each other as many South African players feature consistently in the IPL. I still feel SA have a slight edge over India because of their all-round bowling attack, which is performing so well at the moment. However, India have found a way to win matches from precarious situations. Pakistan game being the recent evidence. Winning tight games when players are under pressure is a huge lift to morale of the team. Needless to say, the IND vs SA contest could potentially be one of the best games in the tournament.
