India's Probable Playing XI for third T20I against South Africa

After registering a three-wicket loss to South Africa in the second T20I, India will aim to bounce back in the third game of the series. The third of the four-match T20I series is set to be played on November 13, at the SuperSport Park, Centurion. So far, India and the Proteas have levelled the series 1-1. With a win in the forthcoming game, the guests will aim to gain an upper hand in the series. 

India's Probable Playing XI for third T20I vs SA

Let’s have a look at how India’s playing XI is probably going to look like for the third T20I against South Africa in Centurion: 

Openers: Sanju Samson (wk), Abhishek Sharma

After recording back-to-back centuries as an opener against Bangladesh and South Africa in the first game, Samson failed to deliver in the second game. The batter had to walk back to the pavilion after getting out on a two-ball duck. Even Abhishek Sharma, his co-opener, failed to deliver magic with the bat and could only score four runs off five deliveries that too with a combination of one boundary. However, the openers must have learnt hard lessons, they would aim to play powerful knocks to give India a favourable start in their innings. 

Middle Order: Suryakumar Yadav (c), Tilak Varma, Rinku Singh

Suryakumar Yadav, Team India’s newly recruited captain, hasn't played a memorable knock in a long time, and he will be expected to find his golden touch in the game. While Yadav has had good starts, he has, time and again, failed to convert them. In the two matches so far in the series, Yadav has scored only 25 runs, and he will be expected to do better in the upcoming game. 

Speaking of Tilak Varma, the 22-year-old batter scored 20 runs in the second game and 33 runs in the first game, respectively. He is expected to come up with the same kind of knocks to provide the team with much-needed support in the middle order. When we talk of Rinku Singh, the fiery batter is known for providing finishing touches. So far, he has scored only 20 runs in the series but hopes are high from the batter and he will be expected to come up with better knocks. 

All-rounders: Axar Patel, Hardik Pandya

India have a solid all-round department with veterans like Axar Patel and Hardik Pandya spilling magic with both bat and ball. In the two games so far, Pandya has scored 41 runs overall without any wicket. On the other hand, Axar Patel, scored 34 runs overall but didn’t let go of runs and ended up with figures of 0/8 in the first match and 0/2 in the second game. Both Patel and Pandya will aim to continue the momentum and come up with solid performances in the third T20I of the series. 

Bowlers: Arshdeep Singh, Ravi Bishnoi, Varun Chakaravarthy, Yash Dayal

Fast–bowler Arshdeep Singh picked one wicket each in the first and second game of the series, respectively. On the other hand, the spinning duo of Ravi Bishnoi and Varun Chakaravarthy have delivered stand-out performances so far in the series. While Chakaravarthy picked eight wickets in the series, Bishnoi has picked four wickets so far. 

Yash Dayal, who couldn’t be a part of the playing XI so far would be expected to receive his T20I debut cap. While Dayal is more of a red-ball pacer, he is expected to get a chance in the next game. The pace attack is likely to be composed of Arshdeep Singh, veteran Hardik Pandya and debutant Yash Dayal.