Table of Contents

NEW DELHI: Captain Suryakumar Yadav and Tilak Varma will see their recalibrated batting approach come under the scanner when India face South Africa in their opening Super Eight clash of the T20 World Cup on Sunday.

The two sides have met five times in the last two months, making this a battle of familiar foes. But this time, the stakes are significantly higher.

Batting under the microscope

India eased through the group stage but questions remain around the top order. Opener Ishan Kishan has been the standout with two fifties at a strike rate touching 202. The rest, however, have blown hot and cold.

Abhishek Sharma is yet to score after three successive ducks, twice falling to off spin while attempting expansive strokes. Tilak’s returns have also been modest, with scores of 25 off 24, 25 off 21 and 31 off 27 in the group phase. His strike rate sits just above 120, well below his career average.

Surya himself has not fully hit top gear. Apart from an unbeaten 84 off 49 against the United States, he has looked scratchy, striking at 136 plus compared to his career rate of over 163.

India’s late surge has largely depended on the power hitting of Hardik Pandya and Shivam Dube, who have provided the muscle at the death.

Proteas pace and spin threat

South Africa’s bowling line up is stacked with quality. Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj and skipper Aiden Markram offer variety and control.

With Abhishek vulnerable to off spin, it would not be surprising if Markram rolls his arm over in the Powerplay. South Africa’s top order, featuring Quinton de Kock, Dewald Brevis, Tristan Stubbs, Ryan Rickelton and David Miller, also has the firepower to test India’s bowling depth.

Squads:

India: Suyakumar Yadav (captain), Ishan Kishan (wk), Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma, Shivam Dube, Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Varun Chakravarthy, Sanju Samson (wk), Mohammed Siraj, Washington Sundar, Arshdeep Singh.

South Africa: Aiden Markram (captain), Quinton de Kock (wk), Ryan Rickleton, Dewald Brevis, Tristan Stubbs, David Miller, Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Keshav Maharaj, Corbin Bosch, Anrich Nortje, Kwena Maphaka, George Linde, Jason Smith.

Match Starts: 7 pm.