The India-South Africa series kicks off with the first of the three T20 games taking place Sunday at Dharamsala. On paper, South Africa definitely look a much inexperienced and weaker team in comparison to the hosts.
India on paper do have an array of match-winners in their squads. South Africa on the other hand will have to depend a lot on skipper Quniton de Kock, fast bowler Kagiso Rabada and then to a certain extent on David Miller. The last-named has really not been able to keep up to his talent since the time he burst on to the national side.
On the other hand, in spite of resting a number of biggies, India with the likes of skipper Virat Kohli, openers Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan, all-rounders and brothers Hardik and Krunal Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja have probably answers to all the questions South Africa may throw at them.
But the beauty of the T20 game is that it is very unpredictable. A couple of overs are enough to change a game head on. May be a Reeza Hendricks or a Junior Dala may come to the party and spoil India’s aspirations. Here’s a look at a few of the South African players who can turn out to be match-winners for South Africa.
Quinton de Kock: The newly appointed skipper has a very healthy strike rate of 127.07 in the T20 format of the game. De Kock, who opens the innings, can prove quite a handful for India’s inexperienced pacers. He has shots all round the wicket and can improvise very well. It remains to be seen whether he can adjust to the pressures of being the captain and throw his bat around for crucial runs for his side.
M-36 R-887 50s-2 SR-127.07
Reeza Hendricks: This 30-year-old opening batsman is known for his explosive batting at the top of the order. Even though he has just played 20 T20 games, the South African selectors are pinning a lot of hope on Hendricks. It should also be mentioned here that Hendricks got a century on his ODI debut last year, an 89-ball 102 against Sri Lanka. He can hit long and far and on some of the smaller Indian grounds can prove quite a handful for the Indian bowlers
M-20 R-559 50s-4 SR-134.22
Kagiso Rabada: The premier South African fast bowler will have a key role to play in the T20 series. Rabada has an economy rate of more than eight runs per over, but it is his ability to take wickets that counts. Also Rabada has the experience of playing in the IPL, which will come in handy in guiding other bowlers who are touring India for the first time. Rabada’s ability to make the ball climb steeply on any surface makes him a potent threat… more so at Dharamsala where the ball tends to seam and swing.
M-19 W-25 BB-3/30 Ecn-8.31
David Miller: With 63 T20 games under his belt David Miller is probably the most experience batsman in the ranks of the Proteas. On his day, Miller can simply turn a game with his explosive batting as well as brilliant fielding. But then those days are few and far between. Miller is the only batsman to have more than a 1,000 runs under his belt and also to have an international 100. For South Africa, he needs to fire.
M-70 R-1,291 100s-1 50s-2 SR-140.32
Rassie van der Dussen: In a short career spanning only seven games, right-handed batsman, Rassie van der Dussen has already made a name for himself as a fearless hitter. This is one player South Africa will bank heavily on. Rassie has the ability to hit on both sides of the wicket and that makes it difficult for the bowlers to contain him. Overall, another key player for the Proteas if they are to challenge India in the T20 series.
M-7 R-253 50s-2 SR-133.15
PNN