SA vs IND: In the heart of Johannesburg, fans are witnessing an exciting contest between South Africa and India in the third and final T20I of the riveting three-game series. A series that began with a rain-marred opener in Durban, followed by a triumphant win for South Africa, has now reached a pivotal juncture. India, keen on levelling the series, embarked on the third T20I with determination and flair.
The stage was set as openers Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill strode to the crease, exuding aggression and intent. The scoreboard quickly raced to 29-0 in just 2.1 overs, hinting at a formidable start for the Indian side. However, the cricketing gods had other plans.
In a twist of fate, on the second ball of the third over, Maharaj delivered a masterstroke to dismiss Shubman Gill, who was unfortunate to be adjudged lbw. A confident appeal and the swift finger of the umpire changed the dynamics of the game. HawkEye later revealed the decision would have been in Gill’s favor had he opted for a review—a twist of luck for South Africa.
The following delivery witnessed the fall of a second wicket in quick succession. Tilak Varma, the new batter, faced the delivery from Maharaj and succumbed to the pressure. A caught-out dismissal, with the ball finding the safe hands of Markram at mid-off, marked a double whammy for Maharaj. Two wickets in two balls.
Tilak Varma’s aggressive intent backfired, and the young batter departed without contributing to the scoreboard. Maharaj’s spell had left India reeling, and the spotlight turned to the players who were overlooked in the selection process.
Ruturaj Gaikwad, the top scorer in the previous T20I series against Australia, and Shreyas Iyer, the hero of the 5th T20I against Australia with a match-winning half-century, found themselves sidelined in the series against South Africa. Instead, the team management opted for Tilak Varma and Shubman Gill, a decision that stirred controversy among fans.
Head coach Rahul Dravid faced brutal trolling on social media platforms as fans questioned the omission of Gaikwad and Iyer. The unexpected selection choices sparked debates and discussions, with Indian fans expressing their opinions on the team composition.
SA vs IND: Rahul Dravid Getting Brutally Trolled For Dropping Shreyas Iyer And Ruturaj Gaikwad
