Hosts India bounced back to win the third T20I in Vizag after losing the first two games. The win in the third game was largely propelled by bowlers Yuzvendra Chahal and Harshal Patel, who picked up seven wickets between them to help India defend 179.
The fourth game, to be played at Rajkot’s Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium, will decide if India lose the series or keep themselves alive until the final game. The visitors have won the first two games and a win in the fourth game will guarantee them the trophy.
Despite losing two games, India named an unchanged playing XI for the third T20I and are likely to field the same players in the fourth T20I unless there’s any injury concern in the camp.
South Africa, meanwhile, will continue to miss the services of an injured Quinton de Kock, while Aiden Markram has flown back home after completing his Covid quarantine.
Some of the Indian players will be eyeing personal milestones in this game. An out of form Rishabh Pant needs only one more six to complete 100 sixes in international cricket. Bhuvneshwar Kumar needs four more wickets to become India’s all-time second-highest wicket-taker in T20 internationals. Axar Patel is one wicket away from completing 100 wickets in international cricket across formats.
Predicted XI
India
Ishan Kishan, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant (c & wk), Hardik Pandya, Dinesh Karthik, Axar Patel, Harshal Patel, Avesh Khan, Yuzvendra Chahal, Bhuvneshwar Kumar
South Africa
Reeza Hendricks, Rassie van der Dussen, Temba Bavuma (c), Dwaine Pretorius, Heinrich Klaasen (wk), David Miller, Tabraiz Shamsi, Wayne Parnell, Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, Anrich Nortje
Image credit: BCCI
