🏏India vs South Africa : 1st T20 🏏

The 1st T20I match between India and South Africa will be played today at the Arun Jaitley Stadium, New Delhi.

India is currently placed at the top of the rankings on the ICC Men’s T20I rankings, while South Africa is placed at the fourth spot on the rankings.

India won all of their recent five T20I matches, while South Africa managed to win four of their recent five T20I games.

Rishabh Pant will be leading the Indian side in the absence of senior players like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, KL Rahul and Jasprit Bumrah.

On the other hand, Temba Bavuma will lead the Proteas.

These two teams have played 15 matches against each other in this format so far, where India won nine matches while South Africa managed to win six games. Another exciting series is anticipated here, with both teams looking in great recent touch.⭐️

Fresh after gleefully addressing his first-ever press conference as the India T20I captain, albeit admittedly in 'not the best of circumstances', Rishabh Pant headed straight to the center wicket at his home ground for another thing that perhaps gives him just as much joy - range-hitting.

Most IPL showstoppers have been duly rewarded, and the likes of Ruturaj Gaikwad and Venkatesh Iyer backed.

Injured Kuldeep Yadav may have every right to feel robbed, but from India's perspective, there's still plenty in the spin department to be auditioned before the World Cup-focused pruning begins. More certain for now, and keenly observed, would be the trial of 'specialist finisher' Dinesh Karthik!

IND vs SA Match Probable XIs

India: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant (c & wk), Dinesh Karthik, Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Harshal Patel, Yuzvendra Chahal, Umran Malik

South Africa: Quinton de Kock (wk), Reeza Hendricks, Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram, Temba Bavuma (C), David Miller, Dwaine Pretorious, Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, Tabraiz Shamsi, Anrich Nortje

Thanks for the tag Birthday girl.

All the very best to team India.

Cheers..

Weather Report

The temperature is expected to hover around 36°C on the matchday with 23% humidity and 11 km/hr wind speed. There are no chances of precipitation during the game.

Pitch Report

The pitch at Arun Jaitely stadium is generally a surface that is on the slower side.

But the boundaries here are not big and the outfield often remains quick.

So, the team that gets to bat first will be eager to put on board a total in the vicinity of 170 and challenge the chasing side.

Spinners might be able to use the slow-ish nature of the pitch here.

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Good luck India

Average 1st innings score:

The average first innings score on this wicket is 159 runs.

Record of chasing teams:

The team batting second has great records here. They have maintained a winning percentage of 60 on this ground.

Rishabh Pant is a left-handed wicketkeeper-batsman from India. He has smashed 683 runs in his 43 matches T20I career so far and will be aiming to make a significant impact with the bat here as well.

Ruturaj Gaikwad is yet another impactful player who carries the potential to convert the starts into big innings. He will be among the top fantasy picks for this match.

Hardik Pandya is a right-handed batsman and right-arm medium-fast bowler from India. He has marked 553 runs and picked up 42 wickets in his 54 matches T20I career so far. He will be an essential pick considering his recent all-round form in the IPL.

Quinton de Kock is a left-handed wicketkeeper-batsman from South Africa. He has smacked 1827 runs in his 61 matches T20I career so far. He had an excellent IPL season with the bat and would be desperate to replicate similar performances for his national side too.

Originally posted by: Savera84

Thanks for the tag Birthday girl.

All the very best to team India.

Cheers..

Originally posted by: _NINA_

Thanks for the tag Birthday Girl

Good luck India

Considering the team strength and home advantage, India is expected to win this match.

The sweltering heat of a typical June afternoon would mean a hot welcome on match evening for both sides.

That said, dew will have a say later in the game after sunset.

Chasing has been a trend in T20Is at the venue, and would likely be the captain's choice at toss tomorrow as well.

The last-minute injuries have pruned India's squad down to 16 and eased some of the selection headaches.

Ishan Kishan, who spent considerable time in the nets addressing his weakness against balls outside off, and Ruturaj Gaikwad will now both get to audition for the openers' slot, as Pant all but confirmed.

If Dinesh Karthik indeed earns his place in the XI as a pure finisher, Axar Patel could likely take up the second all-rounder's slot.