SA vs IND, 1st T20I | 5 Player Battles To Watch Out For
Aiden Markram | Source: X.com
The journey of India in South Africa kicks off with a three-match T20I series, starting December 10 at Kingsmead Durban.
For the white-ball series against South Africa, India will once again be without the services of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli. Both players are slated to return for the three-match Test series. Suryakumar Yadav is named captain, and Ravindra Jadeja will act as his deputy.
Meanwhile, Shubman Gill and Mohammed Siraj are back in the game after sitting out the T20I series against Australia. Now, the plot thickens as they need to figure out how to weave Shubman Gill into the mix, given the outstanding show by Ruturaj Gaikwad and Yashasvi Jaiswal against Aussies.
On the other hand, South Africa, under Aiden Markram's leadership, boasts a dynamic batting unit with heavy hitters like Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, and Reeza Hendricks. The bowling lineup introduces the rising star, Gerald Coetzee, eager to create an impact in the series.
With that introduction, let's break down the top five player matchups to look forward to in the upcoming match:
Heinrich Klaasen vs Mohammed Siraj
Heinrich Klaasen | Source: X.com
Heinrich Klaasen is the danger man in the South African batting lineup, and it's a daunting task for the Indian bowlers to mute his impact on the game.
Heinrich Klaasen's spin skills are well-known, but there's a pace bowler in the Indian lineup who he simply goes crazy against. Mohammed Siraj is the one who bears the brunt, with Klaasen scoring a whopping 28 runs from only 14 balls, even though Siraj managed to dismiss him once in T20s.
Suryakumar Yadav vs Lungi Ngidi
Suryakumar Yadav | Source: X.com
Suryakumar Yadav takes the lead as the most experienced player heading into the series, and the team has high expectations from him, especially with an eye on the T20 World Cup in 2024.
The ‘Mr.360 of India’ has his eyes set on one particular bowler in the South African lineup—Lungi Ngidi. He boasts a solid record against Ngidi, having scored 38 runs from the 17 balls he's faced. Interestingly, Ngidi has yet to dismiss Suryakumar Yadav in T20s.
David Miller vs Mohammed Siraj
David Miller | Source: X.com
After rocking the 2023 World Cup, David Miller has not missed a beat, delivering some sensational performances in franchise leagues. His current form is outstanding, and one can bet he is looking to unleash that brilliance against the Indian bowling attack.
However, Mohammed Siraj has been the spoiler for David Miller in T20s, dismissing him twice in just six balls and conceding only three runs. The face-off between these two promises to be a captivating chapter in the upcoming game.
Shreyas Iyer vs Lungi Ngidi
Shreyas Iyer | Source: X.com
It’s no secret that Shreyas Iyer has his challenges against quality pace, especially on demanding tracks where fast bowlers reign supreme. His struggle is noticeable, and batting in the South African conditions, where pace bowlers get ample assistance from the pitch, poses a real challenge for him.
The Mumbai batter might find himself in a spot of bother against the South African standout, Lungi Ngidi. Their T20 encounters show Iyer struggling with just 6 runs from 10 balls, and Ngidi has sent him back to the pavilion once.
Shreyas Iyer vs Tabraiz Shamsi
Tabraiz Shamsi | Source: X.com
Shreyas Iyer might have a slight vulnerability against pace, but when it comes to facing spin, he's in a league of his own. Known for his spin-bashing prowess, he has a track record of handling South African spinner Tabraiz Shamsi well in the past, and he aims to continue the trend in the upcoming series.
Coming down on the numbers, Tabraiz Shamsi has been on the receiving end of Shreyas Iyer's spin onslaught, with Iyer smashing 41 runs off just 19 balls and only getting dismissed once. He hit the Proteas spinner for five sixes and a boundary.
.jpg "SA vs IND, 1st T20I: H2H")
 "Shivani Shukla")
