The Proteas need to up the intensity if they aim to end the T20I series against India on a high, writes Khalid Mohidin.
Setting the stage:
The Proteas have travelled to Bengaluru for the final T20I against India.
Known for its short boundaries and high altitude, the M.Chinnaswamy Stadium is known to be a batting paradise in limited-overs cricket. Particularly in the IPL, many high scores were hit and chased there.
This brings the medium pacers into the game and the spinners making their performances vital to restricting the opposition. The Proteas’ pacemen need to bowl smartly and control their lines and lengths.
The Proteas batsmen, on the other hand, need to bat fearlessly but not recklessly. It’s pivotal that they score quickly upfront. But ultimately, the game will be won in the middle overs, which means the Proteas’ middle-order batsmen need to step up, especially if a couple of wickets have fallen.
READ: “WE NEED TO IMPROVE BATTING AT THE BACK END OF THE INNINGS”
India were barely tested in the 2nd T20I, so it’s up to South Africa to bring the intensity to the clash.
My Proteas team selection:
If I was the selector, I would pick a batting-heavy side. Having two spinning all-rounders in the squad is a luxury. George Linde and Bjorn Fortuin have proven to be lethal in the South African T20 domestic formats and they add extra batting depth.
Fortuin showed some of his ability on debut, although he needs to tighten up his consistency a bit more. De Kock should think about using him a little earlier in the match.
The quicker you stem the run rate upfront, the more pressure the batsmen feel at the back end of the innings.
Dwaine Pretorius and Andile Phehlukwayo proved that their medium-pace can do the trick of throttling the opposition, while Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje must bowl smarter in the final game.
In the batting department, it is straight forward. Pick all the specialised batsmen available.
1. Quinton de Kock (c, wk)
2. Reeza Hendricks
3. Rassie van der Dussen (vc)
4. Temba Bavuma
5. David Miller
6. Andile Phehlukwayo
7. Dwaine Pretorius
8. Bjorn Fortuin
9. George Linde
10. Kagiso Rabada
11. Anrich Nortje
Possible India starting XI:
1. Rohit Sharma
2. Shikhar Dhawan
3. Virat Kohli (c)
4. Shreyas Iyer
5. Rishabh Pant (wk)
6. Hardik Pandya
7. Krunal Pandya
8. Rahul Chahar
9. Khaleel Ahmed
10. Deepak Chahar
11. Navdeep Saini
