RSA vs IND 1st Match Prediction

RSA vs IND Team Previews

South Africa

South Africa is missing Quinton de Kock, Lungi Ngidi (named in the squad but struggling with injuries), and Kagiso Rabada for this series. This is because of a mix of injuries, unavailability, and rest. We don't think the batting is really going to be affected but the South African bowling attack is definitely weaker than normal. 

We expect Reeza Hendricks and Matthew Breetzke to open the batting with a strong lineup to follow. Aiden Markram, David Miller, Heinrich Klaasen, and Tristan Stubbs could potentially form a destructive top-6. There is a lot of power and experience in this lineup. We know how dangerous Klaasen and Miller can be but don't forget Markram either. 

Getting enough runs to challenge the Indians should not be much of a problem. 

South Africa has several options for its 7,8, and 9 positions. We think they will go with Donovan Ferriera, Marco Jansen, and Gerald Coetzee. This gives them a fair bit of batting depth with Keshav Maharaj and Beuran Hendricks/Nandre Burger to follow. 

South Africa has opted to play aggressive cricket with a batting-heavy lineup in the past and that is what we see happening in this series as well. In home conditions, this lineup is going to be very difficult to stop.  

India

The format in which India has struggled the most to come up to modern standards is T20 cricket and it looks a conservative approach will continue into the T20 World Cup. While some of the senior players are resting/injured for this series (Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Shami, and KL Rahul), it will give the exciting youngsters a chance to make an impact. 

The squad for this series is similar to what we saw play against the Australians at home. India won that series 4-0 but that was at home and against a depleted Australian team. 

Some important questions will need to be answered in this series. India has to choose between Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, and Ruturaj Gaikwad as openers. We think Gaikwad should be the one to miss out but that will be really tough on him. 

SKY and Shreyas Iyer seem certainties in the middle order leaving space for just two between Ishan Kishan, Jitesh Sharma, Rinku Singh, and Tilak Varma. Once again, we think conservatism will win out and it will Jitesh Sharma and Tilak Varma who miss out. 

Ravindra Jadeja will bat at 7 followed by the four bowlers. India will have a hard time playing two spinners and so the number one-ranked T20 spinners in the world, Ravi Bishnoi, may end up missing out for Kuldeep Yadav. Mohammad Siraj will play if he is at full fitness and be joined by Mukesh Kumar. The final spot will be between Deepak Chahar and Arshdeep Singh. 

India's batting is strong with Gill and SKY as standouts but the rest of the batting could struggle in South African conditions. Also, the bowling attack is looking quite thin with no sixth bowling option and a lack of dependable pace bowlers.