IND vs SA: Team India’s winning juggernaut at home continued as they registered a convincing 8-wicket against South Africa in the first T20I at the Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram, 3 days after beating the mighty Australians, the defending T20 World champs, in the series by 2-1 scoreline.
The hosts chased down the target of 107 in 16.4 overs, with KL Rahul (51 runs off 56 balls) and Suryakumar Yadav (50 off 33) making the chase swift after early twin wicket losses of Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli.
However, it were the bowlers who had effectively sealed the match with brilliant bowling performance. Deepak Chahar and Arshdeep Singh swung the ball both ways to take 5 wickets combined in the first 2.3 overs to pin SA to the mat. Harshal Patel picked two late wickets to restrict Sa to little over 100.
The action now moves to the Barsapara Cricket Stadium in Guwahati.
In this article, we will tell you about the pitch, conditions, teams, and weather for the second India-South Africa T20I:
IND vs SA, 2nd T20I: Venue history
Guwahati’s Barsapara Cricket Stadium is a relatively new venue and only was given the green signal to host international cricket in 2017 when they added the floodlights in the stadium.
The stadium has hosted only 2 T20Is so far: in October 2017, Australia defeated India by 8 wickets. The second T20I was in January 2020 between India and Sri Lanka but the match was abandoned due to rain without a single ball being bowled.
One ODI has happened here – India defeated West Indies by 8 wickets in October 2018 with Kohli scoring a century in the chase of 323.
IND vs SA, 2nd T20I: Pitch report and conditions
In the game against Australia, India were bowled out for 118 with Aussie pacers taking 8 wickets among them. Swing bowler Jason Behrendorff took 4 wickets all inside the powerplay. The average score of 16 T20 matches at this venue from 2017 to 2021 is just 138 runs. Apart from this, no team here has been able to score a total of more than 180 runs so far.
So clearly, run-scoring, as it was in the first T20I, is going to be difficult for both the teams. Pacers will enjoy the early exposure of the surface and tinge of green is also expected to be left by the curators as it was in that India-Australia game.
IND vs SA, 2nd T20I: Weather report
The temperature in Guwahati is expected to remain 28 degrees during match hours. But 99 percent cloudy sky is also expected on the game night. There is a chance of six percent thunderstorms. So the match on Sunday could be interrupted or delayed. However, the Assam Cricket Association officials are fully prepared for any troubloe caused by the rain.
IND vs SA, 2nd T20I: Team changes for both the sides
Both the teams are unlikely to make any change. India have already lost the services of Jasprit Bumrah, who was rested from the first T20I, due to back fracture and Mohammed Siraj has been added to the squad. South Africa could rest either of Rabada or Nortje and include Ngidi in the XI, but that seems unlikely given the series will be on the line in Guwahati.
