Interested in today’s cricket match Predictions 3rd T20 India vs SA ?
You have come to the right page.
Background
The 3rd T20 match between India and SA will be played at the Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam.
India is facing a battle of survival after losing the first two T20 matches.
If SA win, they will gain a 3-0 lead in the 5-match series.
So, it is a must win game for India.
India’s form analysis
India won 12 consecutive T20 matches before this series.
So, their confidence was sky high.
However, in a bizarre twist of fate, they lost both their matches against SA.
In the 2nd match, India struggled to accelerate the scoring and ended up with a meagre 148.
Shreyas Iyer scored 40 but it consumed 35 balls.
Many of the batters are looking jaded and seem to be suffering from post-IPL exhaustion.
Bhuvneshwar Kumar was the only bowler who performed with a stunning 4 wicket haul.
Venue past stats
Total matches played: 2
Matches won bowling first: 2
Average 1st Inns score: 108
Average 2nd Inns score: 103
Highest total recorded: 127/7 (20 Ov) by AUS vs IND
Going by past record, it looks like a low-scoring venue with lots of help for the bowlers.
Team News
SA’s main batter Quinton de Kock will miss the match due to injury.
Another key player, Aiden Markram tested positive for COVID-19 before the series.
Ruturaj Gaikwad is out of touch and might make way for Venkatesh Iyer.
Even Yuzvendra Chahal has been leaking runs and the team might be tempted to give Ravi Bishnoi a chance.
Rishabh Pant is the captain in the absence of KL Rahul but has not been convincing with the bat or with his decisions.
Head to Head record
India and South Africa have squared off against each other in 17 T20Is.
India have won nine games.
SA have won eight.
So, there’s much to choose between them.
Key Players for South Africa
Heinrich Klaasen has been a revelation. Though he was drafted as a wicket keeper replacement for de Kock, Klassen has delivered with the bat.
He is not fazed by pressure and has the ability to play good cricket shots even when the asking rate is high.
Along with Rassie Van de Dussen and David Miller, Klassen forms a trio of destructive batters that can tear any attack apart.
Key Players for India
The Vizag pitch favours bowlers and India has the kind of bowlers who can make a difference here.
Bhuvi has been in outstanding form so he will lead the attack.
Harshal Patel is another player who has the knack of picking wickets when the pitch offers a little help.
Even Chahal has proved to be a fighter in the past. He has been bowling too fast in the last two matches. If he relaxes and uses his loop and flight more, the South Africans will struggle against him.
India Likely Playing XIs
Venkatesh Iyer, Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, Rishabh Pant, Axar Patel, Dinesh Karthik, Harshal Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Avesh Khan, Ravi Bishnoi
SA Likely Playing 11
Temba Bavuma, Reeza Hendricks, Dwaine Pretorius, Rassie van der Dussen, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Wayne Parnell, Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, Anrich Nortje, Tabraiz Shamsi
Prediction
South Africa is in the driver’s seat but Vizag is the perfect ground for India to make a comeback.
If one of India’s batters fires and India posts a respectable total, SA can come under pressure.
Our prediction is India will win the match.
For more free Cricket tips and predictions, watch this space.
