SA vs IND 2nd T20I | Playing 11 Prediction, Cricket Tips, Preview & Live Streaming

South Africa and India lock horns for supremacy (Twitter)

A rain-abandoned opening T20I in Durban on Sunday denied both South Africa and India the opportunity to draw first blood and take the winning momentum into the penultimate game of the three-match series in Gqeberha on Tuesday (December 12). 

As gloomy weather disrupts the plans, both sides hope for an uninterrupted game this time and to take an unassailable lead in the series with a comprehensive performance as they continue to build towards next year's ICC T20 World Cup in the Caribbean & USA. 

SA vs IND: Team Previews 

South Africa 

South Africa could back their two spinners (Twitter)

For the Proteas, a major point of consideration would be the second spinner's slot: do they play for the home conditions with India's historic strengths in mind or prepare earnestly for the drier surfaces expected in the Caribbean next summer? 

It could be that they prepare a dry pitch at St George's Park themselves to bring in their experienced spin twins Keshav Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi into play, which will balance out the attack quite perfectly in the presence of fast-bowling allrounders Marco Jansen and Gerald Coetzee down the order. 

In the absence of spearheads Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi, the team management could bring in backup seamer Lizaad Williams to round off the pace department for the much-anticipated Indian clash. 

India

Can Siraj make a difference in the pace attack? (Twitter)

India will have as many as five of their senior first-choice members returning to the T20I side after being rested for the Australian challenge amid a super quick turnaround from the ICC World Cup 2023 duties. 

Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav and Mohammed Siraj bolster the fresh-looking squad led by stand-in captain Suryakumar Yadav with regular skipper Rohit Sharma and vice-captain Hardik Pandya missing on tour. 

India's batting undergoes strengthening with the return of Iyer at No.3 slot. As does the spin department, emboldened by the comeback of Kuldeep, who might just pip young Ravi Bishnoi into the sole specialist spinner's slot for the conditions despite him winning the 'Player of the Series' against Australia. 

But the scrutiny will reserved for the pace attack, which was India's weakest suit in the face-off with the Aussies. Siraj's return does add more experience to the table but young left-arm quick Arshdeep Singh's struggles remain a major area of concern. 

SA vs IND: Match Details & Live Streaming

SA vs IND: Gqeberha Pitch Report

Among the slower surfaces in the high-paced rainbow nation, the pitch at the St George's Park tends to offer hint of grip and turn to the spinners and pacers can use their cutters and slower bouncers to pretty good impact. It would lower the par score for critical face-off where hosts India strive to pack a strong punch against the mighty hosts, who have historically been dominant on home terrain. 

SA vs IND: Probable Playing XIs

South Africa: Reeza Hendricks, Matthew Breetzke, Aiden Markram (c), David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Heinrich Klaasen (wk), Marco Jansen, Gerald Coetzee, Keshav Maharaj, Tabraiz Shamsi, Lizaad Williams 

India: Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan (wk), Suryakumar Yadav (wk), Rinku Singh, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh, Mukesh Kumar

SA vs IND: Cricket Exchange Fantasy Tips

SA vs IND: Winner Prediction

If the pitch plays true to its traditional nature, India would believe they have an edge heading into the second T20I with their spin strength. As Kuldeep returns to the side, the Proteas might just find the left-arm wristspinners of his too stiff a challenge through the critical middle-overs phase. 

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