The eleven-month wait has finally come to an end as the 20-20 World Cup is knocking at our doors. With the tournament set to begin on October 16, India is all set to play their last T20I before the mega event on October 4, Tuesday, against South Africa. The star batter Virat Kohli has been reportedly rested for the final T20I which gives an opportunity to the skipper Rohit Sharma to test his team combination for the one final team before the mega event.
Rishabh Pant and Shreyas Iyer are likely to be included in the team for the third T20I at Indore. Pacer Mohammed Siraj is also expected to get a go as team India desperately searches for the replacement of the speedster Jasprit Bumrah. Kohli, KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma and Suryakumar Yadav have plundered runs in the series. But with the top-order enjoying success, Rishabh Pant has not got a chance. With the promotion of Dinesh Karthik to number five on Sunday, Rohit Sharma and Rahul Dravid made it clear that Rishabh Pant was not in plans to start.
But keeping an injury or loss of form in mind, the team management could be tempted to give Rishabh Pant a go at the top order to get some game time in the middle. India‘s biggest concern is in the bowling department as the Indian bowling attack conceded 65 runs in the last four overs yesterday. But it was not a one-off thing as the last five-six games have seen a similar pattern. Rohit admitted that it is a problem that needs addressing in the post-match presentation on Sunday.
“Yes, we have not bowled well at the death in the last five or six games. We are doing the same to the opposition as well. To bowl and bat at the death is very tough. That is where the game is decided. We need to pick ourselves and get our act together,” Rohit said.
India’s Predicted Playing XI third T20I:
KL Rahul, Rohit Sharma(c), Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (WK), Dinesh Karthik, Axar Patel, Ravichandran Ashwin, Harshal Patel, Deepak Chahar, Arshdeep Singh/ Mohammed Siraj
