Team India, after a wild Indian Premier League (IPL) schedule, is set to embark on an international calendar with a five-match T20I series against South Africa; the home series will be played between June 9 to June 19, in Delhi, Cuttack, Vizag, Rajkot, and Bengaluru. Although, regulars like Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Shami, and Ravindra Jadeja are rested by the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), for the series.
Selectors Committee has recently announced the squad comprising youngsters and experienced players, for the 5-games. Here’s what the squad looks like. Among these, on basis of their first-rate performances in the IPL 2022, Arshdeep Singh and Umran Malik have received their maiden India call-ups.
Moving towards the point, on the occasion of this series again, let’s have a look at three unforgettable India vs South Africa T20I contests, from the past.
1. T20 World Cup Semifinal, 2014
The Semi-Final encounter between India and South Africa (SA) from the 2014 T20 World Cup edition, is certainly one of the most unforgettable ones. India had won all of their league stage matches; while proteas had lost one of their four league stage games.
Winning the toss at Shere Bangla Stadium, Mirpur (Bangladesh), Faf du Plessis, the SA skipper chose to bat first. The former SA batter also went on to score 58 runs off 41 deliveries, with five boundaries and a couple of sixes.
The SA lower-middle order batters, JP Duminy and David Miller added a finishing touch with a quick partnership of 43 runs in 27 deliveries. Both the batters carried the bat. Whereas, India’s Ravichandran Ashwin captured three wickets, at an economy of 5.50. SA managed to score a decent total of 172 for 4.
In reply, opener Rohit Sharma was going well but SA pacer Beuran Hendricks caught him at mid-on. Then, Virat Kohli came to bat at number three and rest is the history. The 26-year-old then kept building partnerships with Rahane and middle-order batters after him, including Yuvraj Singh and Suresh Raina.
Although wickets kept falling after an interval, Kohli didn’t flinch. The aggressive right-hand batter scored an unbeaten, match-winning knock of 72 runs off 44 deliveries, with five boundaries and two sixes. MS Dhoni-led the Indian team to chase down the target in 19.1 overs and won the game by 6 wickets, advancing into the finals of the tournament and eventually losing one.
2. South Africa vs India, 3rd T20I, 2019
It was the South Africa tour of India, back in 2019, just before COVID-19 arrived. Virat Kohli, the Indian skipper, won the toss and elected to bat first in the third game of the 3-match T20I series. The Indian lineup literally fell down against the tighter bowling spells from Bjorn Fortuin, Kagiso Rabada, and Beuran Hendricks.
Among these, Rabada picked three wickets, while Fortuin and Hendricks picked two for each. Meanwhile, for India, Shikhar Dhawan scored 36 runs in 25 balls, with four boundaries and two sixes.
In reply, SA lost opener Reeza Hendricks, after a 76 run-stand with Quinton de Kock, the Proteas skipper. De Kock then carried on with Temba Bavuma and scored an unbeaten knock of 79 runs in 52 deliveries with six boundaries and five sixes, at the Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru.
His partnership of 64 runs with Bavuma, aided SA to draw the series 1-1. Besides, Hardik Pandya took the only wicket of Hendricks, in the SA innings.
3. India vs South Africa, 1st T20I, 2006
It was the India tour of South Africa and India was playing their first-ever T20I game, at New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg, back in 2006. Although it is an old one, it certainly has to be remembered.
Batting first, Graeme Smith led SA went down straightforwardly. Albie Morkel was the highest run-scorer of SA innings, with 27 runs off 18 deliveries, in his account. He smashed three sixes and a four. For India, it was a team effort, except for Irfan Pathan, every bowler, including Sachin Tendulkar, captured at least a wicket.
In reply, skipper Virender Sehwag, opening the innings, scored 34 runs off 29 deliveries. The number three batter Dinesh Mongia scored, not so a T20 knock of 38 runs in 45 deliveries. But, it was Dinesh Karthik who clinched the limelight, as he scored an unbeaten knock of 31 off 28 deliveries, guiding India to their first-ever T20I victory, with a ball remaining. India won the game by 6 wickets.
Written by Prachi Pisal
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