India started off the South Africa T20I series with a thumping 8-wicket win at the Greenfield International Stadium, Thiruvananthapuram. 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.
But it was 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. After which, the visitors only struggled for big hits and boundaries which came only toward the end as they barely crossed 100.
These 4 players from the Australia series win missed the first T20I vs SA:
Just three days before defeating South Africa, India had registered a series win over Australia. India came from being 0-1 down to win the series 2-1 vs the Aussies.
4 players from the team that won over Aaron Finch’s side, missed the Thiruvananthapuram T20I vs South Africa for various reasons.
Star all-rounder Hardik Pandya and senior pacer Bhuvneshwar Kumar had already been given a rest by the selectors. Pandya and Bhuvneshwar have been sent to the NCA to refresh after playing plenty of cricket – no Indian player has played more T20Is than Bhuvneshwar this year – and work on their fitness before flying to Australia for the T20 World Cup. Replacing Pandya and Bhuvneshwar in the XI came in Rishabh Pant and Deepak Chahar.
Also missing from the SA T20I match were leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal and spearhead pacer Jasprit Bumrah. R Ashwin came in the side for Chahal considering that South Africa have as many as three left-handed batters – Quinton de Kock, Rilee Rossouw and David Miller – and an off-spinner of the calibre of Ashwin will be more effective in tying them down.
Bumrah was rested from the game due to a back niggle which now has been revealed to be a back stress fracture and this has ruled the seamer out of the T20 World Cup as well! Arsdheep Singh, who was rested for the Australia T20Is, came in the XI and instantly made a huge impact taking three wickets in his first over. Arshdeep’s three-wicket haul put India in command and the young left-arm pacer was rewarded with the Man of the Match award.
The second T20I is slated for Sunday at the Barsapara Cricket Stadium, Guwahati.
