India will look to level the series when they host South Africa in the second T20I in Cuttack on Sunday, 12 June. The hosts, who were beaten by 7 wickets in the first match of the series in New Delhi, look solid to test the former world. Champion in his own backyard.
Incidentally, India have not won a match against South Africa in 6 attempts in 2022 after losing 2 Tests and 3 ODIs at the Rainbow Nation earlier this year. It will be a big test of Rishabh Pant’s character as he leads India in the second T20I as the stand-in captain will be under a bit of pressure.
Pant’s captaincy was questioned after the defeat in the New Delhi T20I. His handling of the bowlers, especially Yuzvendra Chahal, was scrutinized as India failed to defend a total of 211. This was the first time India had not defended a total of more than 200 in T20I cricket as South Africa scored their highest T20I run. -chase.
IND vs SA 2nd T20I Probable XI
Notably, David Miller and Rassie van der Dussen shared an unbeaten 131-run partnership as India went out of plan while defending a huge total. Miller and van der Dussen broke the bowling attack with more than 120 runs in the last 10 overs.
Chahal has been brought into the attack in the powerplays, which is not where he is used to bowling. And the senior leg-spinner, who finished IPL 2022 with a purple cap, was given just 2.1 overs, while fellow spinner Axar Patel was taken to the cleaners.
“Rishabh Pant is a young captain, he will learn and hopefully he will get better. Now, if Dravid feels that Chahal should bowl an over, obviously a message can be sent. He has to keep things simple. And have to be active. It’s very surprising that a bowler like him bowled only 2 overs today,” former India pacer and Gujarat Titans head coach Ashish Nehra told Cricbuzz.
Pant’s captaincy also came under question during the Indian Premier League (IPL) 2022, with Delhi Capitals missing out on a playoff berth despite having luck in their own hands during a tense race for the last 4 places.
Pant got the support of the dressing room
However, Pant, who was made the stand-in captain after KL Rahul’s injury on the eve of the series, has the support of the dressing room. Senior pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar said the young captain will definitely learn and improve from the first T20I.
“Rishabh Pant is a young captain, this was his first match. It happens with everyone. I am sure he will try to do better in the next matches. It depends on the team what the captain looks like. We didn’t bowl well, every decision he takes and if it brings a wicket, everyone welcomes the call but if it goes the other way, people criticize,” said Bhuvneshwar in the second T20I in Cuttack. said on the eve of
India would also like to improve their bowling effort and the general slow nature of the pitch in Cuttack should help the spinners. Yuzvendra Chahal and Axar will look to bounce back from their forgotten outings in New Delhi as India try to dodge South Africa with spin.
David Miller, on the other hand, will continue to be the biggest threat for India considering his stellar form, which he has carried ahead of his Gujarat Titans campaign in IPL 2022. Quinton de Kock missed the first T20I and the senior wicketkeeper-batsman. Would like to make amends while Rassie van der Dussen would like to continue the way he scored runs.
For India, the focus will be on the top order, especially after a slow start that was managed by Ruturaj Gaikwad and Ishaan Kishan. Ishaan was able to pick up pace in the second half of his innings but India would like the openers to be more active in the powerplay.
It is unlikely that both the teams will change their playing XI. Despite the loss in the first T20I, India are likely to stick to the same playing XI.
IND vs SA, 2nd T20I SQUADS
IndiaRishabh Pant (capt and wicketkeeper), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ishan Kishan, Deepak Hooda, Shreyas Iyer, Dinesh Karthik, Hardik Pandya, Venkatesh Iyer, Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, Ravi Bishnoi, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Harshal Patel, Avesh Khan, Arshdeep Singh Umran Malik.
South Africa: Temba Bavuma (c), Quinton de Kock (wk), Reeza Hendrix, Henrik Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Enrique Nortje, Wayne Parnell, Dwayne Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Tabrez Shamsi, Tristan Stubbs, Russi Van der Dussen, Marco Jansson.