After facing a heart-breaking defeat in the first T20 match on Thursday, Team India is aiming to bounce back in the second T20 against South Africa to level the series 1-1 when they lock horns on Sunday at Barabati Stadium in Cuttack.
The Indian side playing the series against the mighty South Africa without their all-format captain Rohit Sharma, ex-captain Virat Kohli, star all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja and experienced fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah as all of the big players are taking a much-needed break to prepare for the upcoming England series, which begins on July 1.
In the Rohit Sharma, the selectors has appointed KL Rahul as the captain for the 5-match T20I series against South Africa. However, due to sudden groin injury Rahul was forced to withdraw from the series. His deputy Rishabh Pant then appointed as the skipper.
During the first match of the series, which was played on June 9 at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in New Delhi, South Africa won the toss and invited the host to bat first.
Team India’s new opening combination Ruturaj Gaikwad and Ishan Kishan provided the team a good start as both added 57 runs for the first wicket in 6.2 overs before Gaikwad walked back to pavilion after scoring 23.
Ishan and Shreyas then did an 80-run solid partnership, with Rishabh Pant (29 off 16) and Hardik Pandya (31 off 12) provided the team a monstrous finishing touch to take India to 211 for 4 in 20 overs. Ishan Kishan remained the highest scorer with 78 runs knock.
Chasing the target of 212, South Africa lost their skipper Temba Bavuma early, Dwaine Pretorius then joined Quinton de Kock, who played a fast and furious 29 runs knock of 13 before getting out when SA were at 61 in 5.2 overs. Quinton de Kock also returned to pavilion after scoring 22 runs.
But both Rassie van der Dussen and David Miller thrashed the Indian bowling lineup and hand their team a victory with 5 balls to spare.
Van der Dussen scored an unbeaten 75 off 46, while Miller played a knock of 64 in just 31 and was awarded as the man of the match for his heroics inning.
For the second T20, the batting line-up of team India is looking stable but the major concern for them is the bowling department as apart from Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Yuzvendra Chahal, all other are youngsters who don’t have a good international experience.
However, with great cricketing minds in Indian team with the likes of head coach Rahul Dravid, and bowling coach Paras Mhambrey, Indian fans are expecting that they will find a way to deal with South Africa’s threatening batters in the second T20 on Sunday, as well as in the subsequent games.
