Only a few hours are left at the start of the first T20I between India and South Africa. Ahead of the game, the hosts are dealing with a crushing blow. Their designated skipper for the series has been ruled out due to an injury. Also, they lost another player during the practice session conducted on the evening ahead of the game. The visitors were already the favorites to win the series.
The reason for that is that they have a full-strength squad for the series. On the other hand, the Men In Blue will play with the second-choice players. With two of their experienced players ruled out for the series, the Green Brigade is looking like a team tough to beat. In this listicle, we will discuss the three reasons why the Temba Bavuma-led side will start the series on a winning note.
Three reasons why South Africa will win
1.KL Rahul and Kuldeep Yadav
The hosts have got a big jolt in the form of KL Rahul and Kuldeep Yadav being ruled out of the series. Rahul sustained a groin injury while Yadav was hit on his right hand while batting in the nets. These were one of the experienced players in the squad with the latter willing to make a strong comeback to the team. However, with them being ruled out, the team might have tough times with the opening slot and they are a bowler short.
2. Inexperience of Rishabh Pant in leading a national team
Pant has been appointed as the skipper of the team after Rahul has been ruled out. This isn’t a surprise for the fans as the former was the vice-captain of the squad. The wicketkeeper batter has led the Delhi franchise in the Indian T20 League for two seasons but leading a national side is a different ball game altogether. Also, not to forget, he is notoriously infamous for making blunders at the crucial junctures of the game. For example, his decision to give Tom Curran the last over of the game against Chennai in the 2021 Indian T20 League backfired. Also, this year, in the must-win game against Mumbai, him not taking a DRS against Tim David cost the team the game and the playoffs spot.
3. Inexperienced pace attack
The team has pacers such as Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Harshal Patel, Umran Malik, Arshdeep Singh, and Avesh Khan. Only Kumar is the experienced campaigner while Singh and Malik are yet to play at the highest level. Also, Patel and Khan are inexperienced.
