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IND vs SA LIVE: Over in Australia....
India vs South Africa LIVE: Pitch
Centurion was the setting for two thrilling high-scoring T20Is within just two days last year. In the first match, South Africa dominated, scoring 131 runs in a rain-affected, 11-over contest, only for the West Indies to chase down that target with three balls remaining.
In a remarkable turnaround, South Africa exacted revenge in the next encounter, with Quinton de Kock smashing a rapid 100 off 44 balls, leading the team to chase down a whopping 259 runs in just 18.5 overs, setting a new record for the highest T20I chase.
So, expect plenty of runs again, but the venue’s steep bounce could also favour fast bowlers if the surface provides some assistance. The weather is forecasted to be clear and pleasant.
IND vs SA LIVE: Team form (most recent first)
South Africa: WLLWL
India: LWWWW
South Africa had ended India's streak of 11 consecutive wins
India vs South Africa LIVE: Fixtures
3rd T20: At Centurion, SuperSport Park
4th T20: At Johannesburg, Wanderers Stadium
IND vs SA LIVE: Ahead of the decisive 3rd T20
India vs South Africa LIVE: Results
1st T20: India 202/8 beat South Africa 141 by 61 runs
2nd T20: India 124/6 lose to South Africa 128/7 by 3 wickets
India vs South Africa 3rd T20 LIVE: Squads
India squad: Suryakumar Yadav (c), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (WK), Rinku Singh, Tilak Varma, Jitesh Sharma (WK), Hardik Pandya. Axar Patel, Ramandeep Singh. Varun Chakaravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Avesh Khan, Yash Dayal.
South Africa squad: Aiden Markram (c), Ottneil Baartman, Gerald Coetzee, Donovan Ferreira, Reeza Hendricks, Marco Jansen. Heinrich Klaasen, Patrick Kruger. Keshav Maharaj, David Miller, Mihlali Mpongwana, Nqaba Peter, Ryan Rickelton. Andile Simelane. Lutho Sipamla, Tristan Stubbs.
India vs South Africa LIVE: Preview
Hello and welcome to our coverage of India tour of South Africa. The series is locked at 1-1 with India winning the opener by 61 runs and then conceding the second by 3-wickets. We move on to Centurion now in this four-match series. A win tonight for either team could set the foundation for the fourth match on Friday
IND vs SA LIVE: The Indian batting lineup must rediscover its rhythm against a resurgent South Africa to reclaim lost ground in the unfamiliar conditions of SuperSport Park as the two teams face off in the third T20I on Wednesday. Since 2009, India has played just one T20I at this venue, suffering a six-wicket defeat in 2018, and only Hardik Pandya remains from that squad.
In addition to grappling with the unfamiliar conditions, India must contend with the inconsistent form of their batters, especially given that the pitch here is expected to mirror the pace and bounce of the one in Gqeberha.
The Indian batsmen faced significant challenges against South African pace bowlers in the second T20I, managing only 124 runs for six wickets, and Centurion possesses similar playing conditions.
The issues begin at the top of the order, particularly with Abhishek Sharma, whose prolonged slump with the bat has become a major concern. He urgently needs a strong performance here to avoid any potential reshuffling of the lineup.
There’s also the option of having Tilak Varma open alongside Sanju Samson, while Ramandeep Singh could be brought in to bolster the middle order.
However, the senior players, including captain Suryakumar Yadav, Pandya, and Rinku Singh, cannot completely escape accountability for India’s struggles either.
Both Suryakumar and Rinku have only shown glimpses of their abilities, while Pandya’s contribution of 39 runs in the second match came off 45 balls. Notably, he took 28 balls to hit his first boundary and failed to score between the 39th and 45th balls.
These three batsmen need to step up to support the in-form Samson or ensure India sets a strong target, even on a day when he may not perform at his best.
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