Whatever the reasons for a series of four T20 Internationals shoe-horned into an already busy schedule, there is no doubt that a rematch of the World Cup finalists has tickled the tastebuds of short-form fans in both countries.
In fact, the series was conceived around four years ago largely as a ‘favour’ from the BCCI to help CSA out of a tricky financial corner. Ironically, the favour was returned before it could be delivered with the Proteas touring India for a five-match series in June 2022 which was drawn 2-2.
Although it has taken four years for the Indians to find a gap, the timing could not have been better following their nail-biting seven-run victory in Barbados in June.
Seven members of both squads were also part of the World Cup teams which maintains some continuity but many stars are also missing with Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli having retired from T20Is and several others, including Rishabh Pant, on route to Australia for the five-test Border/Gavaskar series.
South Africa will be without Anrich Nortje, Tabraiz Shamsi, Kagiso Rabada (not selected) and Quinton de Kock (status unknown) but Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen, Tristan Stubbs and Keshav Maharaj will give the likely starting XI a familiar look.
India have won 10 out of 12 T20Is since their World Cup triumph with one tie and a solitary loss, bizarrely to Zimbabwe in the week following the final. South Africa, on the other hand, have lost five out of six with a solitary victory against Ireland in Abu Dhabi.
Head coach, Rob Walter, has wrung the changes in pursuit of greater depth among international players and, to a degree, that policy has continued with the inclusion of allrounders Mihlali Mpongwana and Andile Simelane. With Patrick Kruger also selected and Marco Jansen returning from a 12-week ‘conditioning block’ the home side should not lack depth with bat and ball.
Such is the extraordinary depth of talent in Indian cricket that it can withstand a full test squad travelling to Australia with an ‘A’ team squad shadowing them in the same country – and still send a squad of established international and IPL players to South Africa.
Captained by Suryakumar Yadav the tourists boast T20 luminary Hardik Pandya, one of the world’s most devastating finishers in Rinku Singh and seasoned internationals Axar Patel, Sanju Samson and Arshdeep Singh.
India should start the series as strong favourites which should, equally, play into the Proteas’ hands. Walter has always encouraged a fearless attitude and approach in his white ball teams and they will hope, once again, to tackle the task without concern for the results and their consequences.
𝐁𝐑𝐄𝐀𝐊𝐈𝐍𝐆: The 16-player T20I squad to face India in November has been announced.
— SuperSport 🏆 (@SuperSportTV) October 31, 2024
Aiden Markram will captain the Proteas Men side 🇿🇦 pic.twitter.com/SXzQ3Uqc4C
The first match begins at 5:00pm at Hollywoodbets Kingsmead on Friday with the second game at 4:00pm in Gqeberha on Sunday before the series moves to the Highveld on Wednesday and Friday next week.
SOUTH AFRICA: Aiden Markram (captain), Reeza Hendricks, Ryan Rickelton, Tristan Stubbs, David Miller, Heinrich Klaasen, Donovan Ferreira, Patrick Kruger, Marco Jansen, Andile Simelane, Mihlali Mpongwana, Gerald Coetzee, Keshav Maharaj, Nqaba Peter, Ottneil Baartman.
INDIA: Suryakumar Yadav (captain), Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh, Sanju Samson, Hardik Pandya, Abhishek Sharma, Ramandeep Singh, Axar Patel, Jitesh Sharma, Ravi Bishnoi, Varun Chakravarty, Yash Dayal, Arshdeep Singh, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Avesh Khan.
FIXTURES:
November 8, Durban - 17:00pm (CAT)
November 10, Gqeberha - 16:00pm (CAT)
November 13, Centurion - 17:00pm (CAT)
November 15, Johannesburg - 17:00pm (CAT)