India vs South Africa | What to expect from 2nd T20I in Centurion
BCCI
India proved their all-round worth in the first T20I at the Wanderers and smashed the hosts to go 1-0 up in the series. Their intentions to cap off the series on a high will push them further and the underperforming middle-order would try to come good to ease out the pressure off the top-order.
Centurion curators will be under severe scrutinyÂ
In the second Test at Centurion, South Africa complained about the slowness and turn off the surface and despite winning the Test at the end thanks to some ridiculous batting display by the Indian batsmen, the hosts went on to lose by nine wickets and eight wickets in the second and sixth ODI respectively. India's spinners took 11 wickets in those two matches to orchestrate India’s victory and that put the SuperSport Park groundsman Bryan Bloy under severe scrutiny from the home side.Â
However, this would be Bloy’s last chance to impress the home team ahead of the much-challenging Australia series and that’s why his main challenge would be to provide a surface that doesn’t spin if he wants to be in the good books of the South African team management by the time next summer arrives.Â
However, given Indian wrist-spinners ability to wreak havoc in any conditions, South Africa might be tempted to make a change to the batting line-up by including uncapped batsman Christiaan Jonker at the expense of one of their experienced players. However, going by the limited-overs leg so far, the pitch of Centurion will again be under focus, at least the South African management’s.
Suresh Raina will have a point to prove
Before this series, the southpaw last played for India more than a year ago - three T20Is against England in 2017. Coming back to the team, he had a do-or-die situation in front of him, but truth be told, his outing turned out to be a mediocre one. The 15 runs that he scored were mostly by chance, but he was a spectacular athlete on the field in the first T20I. He grabbed three catches on the field which ensured that the hosts’ run chase never really took off.
However, given India still don’t have a set middle order and Raina couldn’t give up his hopes on a proper comeback to the 50-over side as well. A good performance in the last two ODIs can make sure a place in the triangular T20I series in Sri Lanka. If Raina manages to do well there and in the upcoming IPL for Chennai Super Kings, he can actually harbour hopes to travel to England - a year before the World Cup.Â
Raina is in good form as well and was the sixth-highest run-getter in the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy with the strike rate nudging above 150. The UP skipper managed to score an unbeaten century in the Super League stage of the tournament, followed by twin fifties over the next two days and surely has the momentum in his side. Thereby, going by his form and Indian
For Chris Morris, it is time to live up to the reputations
Any T20 teams will want to have Morris on their team. He is devastating and can be a more than lethal bowler on any given day. However, much to the dismay of the hosts, he has failed to make a statement. However, with the Test series against Australia looming large, Morris has an opportunity to make a comeback to the form in an otherwise quiet summer.
After missing the Test series due to injury, Morris has failed to perform as per his expectations and after scoring 39 in the ODI series opener, his numbers have dwindled ever since. His bowling form isn't encouraging either and he could only manage to pick three wickets in the six limited-overs matches he's played against India.Â
The Centurion T20I will be the golden opportunity that Morris is looking for and a single good performance among the sea of underperformers can prove to be a vital one for him.
