Category: cricket

India wins the first ODI against South Africa

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In the first One-Day International at the Wanderers here on Sunday, the KL Rahul-led visitors crushed South Africa by eight wickets with to the devastating bowling of India’s Arshdeep Singh and Avesh Khan.

The Proteas were bowled for a pitiful 116 in 27.3 overs thanks to a pitch that offered pace and bounce to the quicks. Avesh recorded statistics of 4 for 27 in his eight overs, while left-armer Arshdeep had outstanding figures of 5 for 37 in 10 overs.

Following their magnificent half century, Sai Sudharsan (55 not out) and Shreyas Iyer (52) managed to chase down the score in 16.4 overs at a cost of two wickets.

B Sai Sudharsan, a 22-year-old batsman in the top order for India, and Nandre Burger, a bowling all-rounder for South Africa, received their first debuts, respectively.

The Proteas lost steam while they were batting first and continued to lose wickets. Arshdeep Singh of India claimed one wicket, while Avesh Khan claimed four. Kuldeep Yadav uses his signature flair to cap up the Proteas’ innings. India now has to score 117 runs to win after the Proteas could only muster 116 runs in 27.3 overs.

Earlier, Hendricks and Dussen were removed by Arshdeep Singh in the second over as neither batsman was able to score a run.

As South Africa appeared to be gathering steam, Arshdeep removed Zorzi (28) with the fifth ball of the eighth over, caught by KL Rahul. On the final ball of the tenth over, Arshdeep Singh removed Klaasen by hitting his stumps.

The Proteas captain Aiden Markram (12) was then removed by Avesh Khan on the first delivery of the eleventh over, and on the following delivery, Wiaan Mulder was removed for a golden duck. Subsequently, he dismisses David Miller (2) on the last delivery of the 13th over, and Keshav Maharaj (4) on the opening delivery of the 17th over. For him, this is also his fourth wicket.

On the first ball of the 26th over, Arshdeep Singh takes Andile Phehlukwayo (33) by leg before wicket (LBW). This is his final over. For him, this is his fifth wicket.

After being summoned back to complete the Proteas’ innings, Kuldeep Yadav does it in style in the 28th over, smashing the latter’s stumps and ending SA’s innings.

Tony de Zorzi (28 runs) and Andile Phehlukwayo (33) had the highest run totals for South Africa. Other than these two individuals, no other hitter was able to score more than fifteen runs.

The youthful Team India takes on South Africa in today’s ODI match after wrapping off the T20 international series with a bang. The Indian cricket team is being led by KL Rahul while key players like Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma are away. With Aiden Markram leading the way, the South African squad is likewise rather youthful.

Some key players, including Yuzvendra Chahal, Sanju Samson, and KL Rahul, are returning for the ODI series.

Captain KL Rahul had stated, “Sanju will bat in the middle order,” in reference to Samson. Every time he has participated in an ODI cricket match, he has performed that role.”

“He’ll bat fifth or sixth. I’m going to keep wickets for the time being, but if he has a chance to fill that position later in the series, he will most certainly do so.”

Due to a medical problem in his family, Deepak Chahar was forced to withdraw just before the opening ODI match against South Africa. The BCCI has chosen to use Akash Deep in lieu of the pacer.

Hardik Pandya Is The New Captain Of MI

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In a historic move, the Mumbai Indians named Hardik Pandya, who is returning from a 10-year stint as captain, captain of the team for the 2024 Indian Premier League. After two years, Hardik, who captained the Gujarat Titans to the 2022 IPL title, was traded back to MI last month. He will take over as the Indian Premier League’s joint-most successful captain ever. Both Rohit and MS Dhoni have won the most titles for their teams—five total—but Sharma stands out because he did so over ten seasons as opposed to MSD’s twelve.

It is a component of creating a lasting legacy and adhering to MI’s future-ready philosophy. The Mumbai Indians have always had outstanding leadership, from Sachin to Harbhajan and Ricky to Rohit, who have all worked to build the team for the future while also contributing to the team’s immediate success. Mahela Jayawardene stated, “Hardik Pandya will take over as captain of the Mumbai Indians for the 2024 Indian Premier League in keeping with this philosophy.

All rumors regarding Hardik’s position with the team have been put to rest by the announcement made by the former captain of Sri Lanka. Hardik was anticipated to take on a larger role after leading GT to the IPL championship the previous season and a runner-up position in the IPL 2023. However, the question of how big has been resolved. Though unofficially, Hardik has already replaced Rohit as India’s T20I captain. Now, he will lead MI into a new era with the hopes of greater and better things. MI won five titles under Rohit between 2013 and 2020, but it appears that a change of leadership was inevitable given the team’s dismal performances in 2022 and 2023.

Midway through the 2013 Indian Premier League, Rohit succeeded Ricky Ponting as captain of Mumbai Indians. In the end, the team defeated Chennai Super Kings to win their first-ever title. With 6211 runs or 3986 runs, Rohit is the fourth-highest run scorer in IPL history. He has scored 129.37 SR over 157 innings while captain, including 25 fifty-score runs. Among IPL captains, Rohit’s total ranks third, behind only Kohli’s 4994 runs and Dhoni’s 4660.

Hardik, his replacement, joined the Mumbai Indians in 2015 and has since amassed 1476 runs and 42 wickets in the IPL. Pandya, who cost INR 10 lakh to sign as an uncapped player, quickly established himself on the squad and participated in MI’s championship teams in 2015, 2017, 2019, and 2020.

Between April 24, 2013, when Ponting resigned as MI captain, and 2023, Rohit guided Mumbai to the most victories of any captain during that time, 87 out of 158 IPL games. Dhoni has 82 victories to rank second. With 10 victories in 13 IPL playoff games, including finals, he has also won more as captain than Dhoni (9 out of 15). In five of the 13 times that MI had advanced to the summit match, they had never lost an IPL final under Rohit.

“We would like to thank Rohit Sharma for his outstanding leadership; since 2013, he has led the Mumbai Indians in a truly remarkable manner. In addition to bringing the team unmatched success, his leadership has cemented his status as one of the best captains in IPL history, Jayawardene continued.

This makes Rohit’s contribution to the franchise even more important. Rohit’s 36-year-old involvement in Twenty20 cricket matches for both MI and India has drawn criticism. In actuality, Rohit’s best season to date—268 runs from 14 games at an average of 19.14—was the previous one, in which MI finished fifth and missed out on the Playoffs. While the next season, the IPL 2023, was a little better with 332 runs from 16 innings, there is concerning information to consider: Rohit has failed to score a half-century in the last two IPL tournaments, casting doubt on his ability to be a force in T20 cricket.

“MI turned into one of the most adored and prosperous teams in history. To further strengthen MI, we will welcome his advice and experience both on and off the pitch. Jayawardene was quoted as saying, “We welcome Hardik Pandya as the new captain of MI and wish him all the very best,” in the groundbreaking release from MI.

Mohammed Shami Ruled Out Of Test Series Against South Africa

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For the South Africa series, the Indian selection committee made a few adjustments to the ODI and Test squads. The BCCI announced on Saturday that pacer Mohammed Shami would not be playing in the two-match Test series against South Africa, which begins on December 26, due to his failure to recover in time. Shami was provisionally included in the team for the two-game series. His participation required his fitness to be cleared. “The fast bowler, Mohd. Shami is ruled out of the two Tests as the BCCI Medical Team has not cleared him to play in the Test series,” the BCCI stated in a release.

Following the ODI World Cup, where he finished as the top wicket-taker with 24 scalps, Shami injured his ankle.

Another alteration to the ODI team was the withdrawal of medium pacer Deepak Chahar because of a family emergency. Akash Deep, who was already in South Africa with the India A team, took his place.

“Due to a family medical emergency, Deepak Chahar has notified the BCCI that he will not be available for the forthcoming ODI series. Mr. Akash Deep has been chosen by the Men’s Selection Committee to succeed him, according to the BCCI.

On December 17, the first ODI of the series, Batter Shreyas Iyer will only be accessible. After that, he will join the Test team and stop playing in the white-ball series.

“Shreyas Iyer will join the Test squad to get ready for the Test series after the first ODI in Johannesburg ends on December 17th. The release also stated that he will participate in the inter-squad game and will not be available for the second and third ODIs.

Another significant change of Team India’s support staff is that fielding coach T. Dilip, bowling coach Paras Mhambrey, batting coach Vikram Rathour, and head coach Rahul Dravid will not be playing in the ODI squad. Instead, to get ready for the red-ball matches, they will join the Test squad.

“The senior men’s team will work with the Test squad to prepare for the intrasquad match and the Test series. Head coach Mr. Rahul Dravid, batting coach Mr. Vikram Rathour, bowling coach Mr. Paras Mhambrey, and fielding coach Mr. T. Dilip will oversee this process.”

“India A’s coaching staff, which consists of fielding coach Ajay Ratra, bowling coach Rajib Datta, and batting coach Sitanshu Kotak, will support the ODI team.

To prepare for the Boxing Day Test, India will participate in an intrasquad match in Pretoria from December 20 to 22. Star players Virat Kohli, R Ashwin, Jasprit Bumrah, and captain Rohit Sharma departed for South Africa late on Friday and are probably going to be involved in that practice match.

BCCI Might Retire Dhoni and Sachin’s Jersey

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According to Indian Express, which cited BCCI sources, MS Dhoni’s legendary No. 7 jersey has been retired by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI). Three years have passed since Dhoni’s retirement from international cricket.

When they retired Sachin Tendulkar’s No. 10 jersey in 2017, the BCCI gave him a similar honour. Sports teams frequently retire their uniforms as a way to honour the outstanding contributions of their all-time greats.

The players on the national team, especially the newcomers, have been advised by the BCCI that numbers 7 and 10, which were formerly worn by Dhoni and Tendulkar, respectively, are currently unavailable. In order to preserve the legacy of these cricketing legends, new players have been forbidden from selecting these numbers, a senior Board official informed the publication.

Currently, the regulars and those in contention on the Indian team are identified by roughly sixty numbers. We therefore don’t give a player’s number to a new player even if they are absent from the team for around a year. That implies a newcomer has only about thirty options to pick from,” a BCCI official was cited in the article.

Retiring jersey numbers is not just for cricketers. In honour of Diego Maradona, Italian football team Napoli retired their No. 10 jersey. The Chicago Bulls honoured Michael Jordan by doing the same with their No. 23 jersey.

In Major League Baseball (MLB), Jackie Robinson’s No. 42 was retired. In honour of the league’s first African-American player, MLB retired it universally in 1997.

Wayne Gretzky’s No. 99 was retired by the National Hockey League (NHL) in 1999. The “Great One,” Gretzky, is the owner of multiple NHL records. Most people agree that he is the best hockey player of all time.

In 2007, the Kentucky Boxing and Wrestling Commission retired the No. 3 worn by Muhammad Ali. Not only was he possibly the best boxer of all time, but he also became a worldwide icon due to his vocal nature and commitment to social justice.

India Won Against South Africa To Tie The Series

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In the last match of the three-match T20 series, the Indian men’s cricket team defeated South Africa by 106 runs on Thursday at the Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg thanks to a captain’s knock from Suryakumar Yadav.

Following India’s victory, both teams won a match each, and the T20 series finished in a draw. Before South Africa defeated India by five wickets in a rain-shortened second T20 match, the first T20 washed out.

India scored 201/7 in the third match on Thursday, but Kuldeep Yadav’s career-best 5/17 saw South Africa’s challenge dismissed for just 95 in 13.5 overs.

In recognition of his 56-ball century, Indian T20 captain Suryakumar Yadav was named player of the match. In the T20 Internationals (T20I), Yadav scored eight sixes and seven fours during his fourth century. Along with Rohit Sharma and Glenn Maxwell, the Indian captain’s century also helped him tie the record for the most T20 tonnes in international cricket.

Aiden Markram, the captain of South Africa, put India into the bat first, and Yashasvi Jaiswal got them off to a quick start. Yashasvi Jaiswal and Indian skipper Suryakumar Yadav continued to battle in the middle despite South Africa’s Keshav Maharaj reducing India to 29/2 in the third over with wickets of Shubman Gill (8) and Tilak Varma on back-to-back deliveries.

In ten overs, the third-wicket combination enabled India to reach 87/2. Yashasvi Jaiswal and Suryakumar Yadav, who needed 24 balls to score 26, joined the action, and together they amassed 54 runs in the following four overs. As the tide turned in favour of India, Suryakumar Yadav hit Andile Phehlukwayo for 22 runs (6,4,6,6) in the 13th over.

On the final ball of the 14th over, Yashasvi Jaiswal (60 off 41) was dismissed by Tabraiz Shamsi, ending the 112-run partnership. Suryakumar Yadav did, however, contribute to India’s final over total of 201/7.

Mohammed Siraj, an Indian bowler, delivered a maiden in the opening over to set the tone early. The South African openers attempted to get at Mukesh Kumar at the other end, but in the process, Matthew Breetzke was dismissed.

The run chase got underway with a couple of boundaries from captain Aiden Markram. But in the fourth over, Mohammed Siraj sent Reeza Hendricks back with a direct hit. Due to frequent wicket losses, South Africa never appeared to be at ease when chasing down runs.

In the last over of the powerplay, Arshdeep Singh removed a dangerous Heinrich Klaasen, making it 42/3. The match was won early in the 14th over when leg-spinner Kuldeep Yadav ran through the remaining South African batting lineup, taking out the country’s top scorer, David Miller.

The three-match ODI series between the Indian cricket team and South Africa begins on Sunday.

India defeated South Africa 95/10 in 13.5 overs (David Miller 35, Kuldeep Yadav 5/17) by 106 runs, scoring 201/7 in 20 overs (Suryakumar Yadav 100, Yashasvi Jaiswal 60, Keshav Maharaj 2/26).

Virat Kohli Named ‘Most Searched Cricketer’ By Google

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Within the cricketing community, Virat Kohli is a household name. When it came to cricketers, the name Kohli popped at the top of the list released by the search engine behemoth “Google” in its entire 25-year history. Some of the best cricket players in the world of sports have been featured on Google since its founding. Players like Rohit Sharma, MS Dhoni, and Sachin Tendulkar are on the list. However, in Google’s history, it was Kohli who became the “most searched cricketer.”

But Kohli was not the most sought-after athlete on the list when it came to searches. It was the legendary Cristiano Ronaldo of Real Madrid and Manchester United, who plays for the Saudi Arabian team Al-Nassr at the age of 38 and still goes strong.

In addition, Ronaldo went on to triumph over some of the biggest names in the sport, most notably Lionel Messi, his bitter rival. The two have dominated the sport for roughly 15 years, and they are undoubtedly the best players of their generation.

Interestingly enough, though, even Kohli is more of a Ronaldo fan than a Messi fan. The Indian cricket player has expressed his admiration for the Portuguese football player in several interviews.

“No trophy or any title can take anything away from what you’ve done in this sport and for sports fans around the world,” Kohli posted to his Instagram account.

“No trophy or title can take anything away from what you’ve done in this sport and for sports fans around the world,” Ronaldo’s squad was eliminated from the FIFA World Cup 2022, and Kohli had previously written on Instagram in support of the player.

The impact you’ve had on people and the feelings you evoke in me and countless others around the globe, when we watch you perform, are beyond words. That is a divine gift. An absolute blessing to a man who gives it his all on the pitch every time is the model of perseverance and hard work and a real source of motivation for athletes of all stripes.

The post went on to say, “You are the greatest person I have ever met.

India vs South Africa 2nd T20: SA won by 5 wickets

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Reeza Hendricks’ Six-Fest Lifts Proteas

In a match interrupted by rain, South Africa’s opener Reeza Hendricks hit several stunning sixes to help the Proteas overcome India by 5 wickets. India made a brief comeback in the middle orders against the South African batting order, which was dominating from the first ball till Andile Phehlukwayo hammered the winning six.

Rain Alters Dynamics: Proteas Chase 152 in 15 Overs

The India-South Africa second Twenty20 match was interrupted by rain nearly at the conclusion of the Indian innings. The playing conditions changed when the rain eventually ceased, and South Africa now needs 152 runs in 15 overs.

In the second Twenty20 Twenty50 match between India and South Africa, here on Tuesday, Rinku Singh improved his reputation as a finisher with his first half-century, while captain Suryakumar Yadav performed in his own unique style to lead his team to 180 for seven.

Surya’s Dominance: Partnerships and Six-Hitting Display

After Surya (56 off 36) led the way and had excellent partnerships with Tilak Varma (29 off 20) and Rinku (68 not out off 39), India lost Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill for six runs when they batted.

With three balls remaining in the innings and Gerald Coetzee on a hat-trick after dismissing Arshdeep Singh and Ravindra Jadeja in back-to-back deliveries, rain finally made its way to St George’s Park.

Rinku, who was playing for the first time in South Africa, took a little to get into his game but then played the pitch brilliantly. During his well-paced innings, he struck two sixes and four fours against Aiden Markram, making his square of the wicket strokes stand out.

Varma, who came in at number three, looked strong in the middle until the sixth over, when he was caught at deep third man.

A 70-run stand between Surya and Rinku ensued. Surya performed as he normally does, scoring most of his runs when he was behind the wicket.

As he moved inside the ball’s line to send it over the ropes, he hit three sixes. One was over midwicket, while the other two were in the fine leg area.

India’s start was less than ideal as they lost both Jaiswal and Gill in the first two overs.

Jaiswal was wonderfully grabbed at backward point by David Miller after he was unable to manage the cut short against Marco Jansen.

Two balls later, Varma may have left in a similar manner, but Miller was unable to use that brief opportunity.

Lizaad Williams grabbed the ball to nip back from length, trapping Gillll in front.

The Indian batsmen continued to bat aggressively in spite of the initial pressure.

IPL’s Valuation Increases To $10.7 Billion

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Record-Breaking Brand Valuation: IPL’s Soaring Financial Success

In a survey, brand valuation firm Brand Finance stated that following the 2023 season, the Indian Premier League’s (IPL) overall brand value increased by an astounding 28% to $10.7 billion (about ₹89,232 crore). Since its debut in 2008, the premier sporting event in India has seen a 433% increase in brand value.

The analysis attributed this year’s increase in the annual cricket tournament’s brand value to large crowds in stadiums, increased internet and other media consumption of IPL events, and mega-media collaborations.

Franchise Dynamics: Mumbai Indians Lead the Valuation Race

Mumbai Indians, valued at $87 million, were determined by the consultant to be the most valuable franchise brand in the Indian Premier League.

The second team on the list, the Chennai Super Kings captained by Mahendra Singh Dhoni, has a brand worth of $81 million. The next two teams, CSK at $78.6 million and RCB at $69.8 million, are Kolkata Knight Riders (KKR) and RCB.

Strategic Growth Stories: Gujarat Titans and Lucknow SuperGiants

In terms of brand value, Gujarat Titans has improved the most, moving up from eighth place to fifth this year. This year, its brand worth rose by 38%.

With every IPL season that goes by, Rajasthan Royals (RR) and Royal Challengers Bangalore (RCB) demonstrate their strength as brands by continuously enhancing their image in cricket. According to the research, while RR is creating a worldwide T20 ecosystem and expanding its cricket offerings across several locations, RCB is still the highly regarded squad that has never won an IPL championship.

The Lucknow SuperGiants (LSG), up an astounding 48%, are the fastest growing IPL brand, coming in at number eight with a brand worth of $47 million.

As per Brand Finance, the launch of the Women’s Premier League (WPL) resulted in an increase in the clubs’ individual brand values.

“Notable changes, including 52 matchdays, the impact player rule, and the Decision Review System (DRS), bring renewed excitement to the IPL 2023 audience,” concluded the research.

The paper also praised Jio Cinema, owned by Mukesh Ambani, for providing free match streaming in more than 15 languages.

“Jio Cinema’s innovative approach includes analytics-backed flexible pricing for advertisers, ensuring sustained marketer interest throughout the season,” according to the article.

Beyond the Numbers: CSK’s Dominance and IPL’s Global Influence

According to the survey, CSK became the strongest IPL brand in 2023 with a AAA- grade.

Apart from assessing brand value, Brand Finance also uses a balanced scorecard of indicators to evaluate shareholder equity, marketing investment, and company performance in order to estimate the relative strength of brands. In accordance with ISO 20671, Brand Finance’s evaluation of stakeholder equity integrates primary market research data from more than 100,000 participants in 38 nations and 31 industries. Chennai Super Kings, with a Brand Strength Index (BSI) score of 81.8 out of 100, is the strongest IPL brand, according to this research, which was published in the report with a AAA- grade.

CSK’s BSI score was comparable to that of German automaker Mercedes Benz and the massive Chinese social media platform TikTok. In terms of brand strength, the Mumbai Indians and Gujarat Titans rank second and third, respectively.

“The IPL brand stands as a guiding light to all other T20 leagues, illustrating how the business model can be successfully scaled up on a global level,” stated Hugo Hensley, Head of Sports Services, Brand Finance, London. Professionals are being aggressively sought after by teams to manage sponsor pools, competitions, and player administration throughout the year. Strong governance is essential to maintaining the IPL brand.”

India vs South Africa 2nd T20: All You Need To Know

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The second match of the T20 international series between India and South Africa will take place in Gqeberha, formerly known as Port Elizabeth, on December 12. The second Twenty20 cricket match at Gqeberha is also clouded in uncertainty due to the looming threat of rain, following the first Twenty20I cricket match at Kingsmead in Durban on Sunday. The game is set to begin at 8.30 p.m. IST.

Indian squad for 2nd T20 match: Probable playing XI

Suryakumar Yadav (capt), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill/Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shreyas Iyer, Rinku Singh, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Deepak Chahar/Mukesh Kumar, Kuldeep Yadav/Ravi Bishnoi, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh.

South African squad for 2nd T20 match: Probable playing XI

Aiden Markam (capt), Reeza Hendricks, Matthew Breetzke, Tristan Stubbs/Heinrich Klaasen (wk), David Miller, Donovan Ferreira, Marco Jansen/Andile Phehlukwayo, Keshav Maharaj, Gerald Coetzee, Nandre Burger, Tabraiz Shamsi

India vs South Africa 2nd T20 international: Weather Prediction

Gqeberha is expected to experience cloudy skies and a few showers. There is an 84% chance of rain during the day and 6% chance at night, according to AccuWeather.

There is a 17% chance of thunderstorms in the city. The temperature is predicted to be between 21 and 14 degrees Celsius, with winds blowing at 9 km/h in the south-east direction at night and about 26 km/h in the south-south-west direction during the day.

Gusts of wind can reach speeds of up to 70 km/h during the day and 28 km/h at night. Cloud cover is likely to occur 86% of the time during the day and 73% of the time at night.

India vs South Africa 2nd T20I: When and where to watch

The Disney+Hotstar app and website will have the India vs. South Africa second T20 match starting at 8:30 p.m. IST.

India’s Tour of South Africa 2023:

India will play two Test matches, three ODIs, and three T20 internationals during this tour of South Africa.

India vs South Africa 1st T20 Match Cancelled Due To Rain

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Due to severe rain in Durban, the first Twenty20 international of India’s tour of South Africa was cancelled. As required by the rules, Cricket South Africa waited until the very last minute, but when the rain didn’t seem to be stopping, the cricket board ultimately opted to call off the match.

Rain greets the young Team India in Durban, causing the first T20 international toss to be postponed. The spectators are pleading to the rain gods to let the game begin as soon as possible while the coverings are on the pitch.

India, captained by Suryakumar Yadav, will play the Proteas in the three-match Twenty20 International series.

Having defeated the Australians in their backyard in the series, the Indians approach the game with a lot of confidence. Surya and the team won’t, however, be overly comforted by their victory on home soil because it was against a reduced Australian lineup right after the World Cup, and India’s batting-friendly conditions aided their batsmen’s style.

Playing in South Africa, however, will be a completely other ball game because Indian batters, particularly those like Shreyas Iyer, may once again be tested on their susceptibility to the short ball due to the swinging and seaming conditions in the SENA nation.

Ahead of the 2024 T20 World Cup, which is less than six months away, several players will have the chance to simply lock up their spot in the India T20 XI. Players who have shown signs of improvement, including Rinku Singh, Jitesh Sharma, Ishan Kishan, and Shreyas Iyer, will need to keep up their strong play to convince the selectors.

Experienced pacer Kagiso Rabada will not be available for the Proteas due to injury, but other pacers like Gerald Coetzee, Marco Jansen, and Lungi Ngidi will be available to play domestic 4-day cricket following the second T20I.

The second T20 is scheduled for tomorrow 11/12/23.