5 Things to expect from the South Africa vs India T20 series

The Test series was clinched by the South African team while the Indians dominated the One Day Internationals (ODI), winning their first bilateral ODI series in the Rainbow Nation 5-1. As the focus now shifts to the T20Is, both the sides would like to stamp their authority from ball one.

India and South Africa have played each other 10 times in this format with India winning six of those encounters. Speaking of momentum, India are on a roll as they have won their last four games in the shortest format of the game. Both captains, Virat Kohli and JP Duminy have a win percentage of 60 in T20Is, something that both of them will want to improve, come the end of the series.

Here are five things to expect from the three-match series:

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South Africa’s counter-attack

No team likes to lose on home soil, especially when that team is South Africa. The team is battered and bruised but definitely not down and out. This is a champion squad and the shortest format is meant for champion performers to have a blast.

Be it a quickfire knock or efficient death bowling, one outstanding performance from a player can change the game on its head. There is a change in leadership with JP Duminy, and there are some fresh faces and bodies in the squad that are waiting to prove their worth. They have an opportunity to display their skills and push for spots in the ODI format.

Raina’s Comeback

Once a regular member of the Indian middle-order and Indian Premier League's Mr. Consistent, Suresh Raina was out of contention for the national team, mainly due to failing to pass the yo-yo fitness test. After clearing the test, the management have shown faith in him and he is all set to feature in the T20Is.

India still haven't solved their middle-order issues during the recently concluded ODI series. They will look to a seasoned campaigner like Raina to lend some solidarity to the seemingly fragile middle-order and in the process, answer the number 4 woes of the team. Good performance in the T20Is will put his name in the list for the tour to England where he has a decent record.

Kohli’s Dominance

Man of the series in the Tests, Man of the series in the ODIs, will he be the Man of the series in the T20Is as well? Virat Kohli has had a fantastic tour so for and going by his intensity on and off the field, he would like to end this tour on a high.

The Indian captain is just 44 runs short of crossing the 2000 run mark in T20Is. He always puts himself ahead of personal milestones but these milestones are testimony to his talent. A dominant Kohli with the bat is an ominous sign for the South Africans because when he is feeling good, his intensity tends to rub off on his team mates as well.

South Africa’s Death Bowling

Hashim Amla mentioned during the ODI series that they have controlled the last 15 overs of the Indian innings. While India’s middle order hasn’t performed to potential, South African bowlers have managed to put a lid on the scoring in the death overs. They will look at the experienced Chris Morris to deliver the goods in this series.

Often, the Indian team fell short of 20-30 runs than what they would have liked to put on the scoreboard. With no Rabada, Ngidi, and Morkel, will the South Africans be able to keep the Indian batsmen in check?

India’s Spin Twins

Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal have taken 33 wickets in the six ODIs on this tour. South Africans have no answers to the continuous and tricky questions asked by India’s young spin twins.

Attack seemed to be the plan of action in the rain-curtailed fourth ODI where Miller, Klaasen, and Phehlukwayo threw both the spinners off track. Will that strategy work in the T20s or will the spinners feast on South African batsmen yet again?

India's tour of South Africa has created several records. There has been a lot of drama in the Test matches, ODIs and in the press conferences as well. Now, it's time for the final chapter of this tour.