IND vs SA: In-form India eye first T20I series win over South Africa at home
India Today
South Africa tour of India: India's depleted bowling attack has grabbed headlines but Rohit Sharma's men will be looking to put their heads down and focus on the job at hand as they seek a rare series victory over the Proteas. The 2nd T20I will be played in Guwahati on Sunday, October 2.
The build-up to the second T20I in Guwahati has all been about Jasprit Bumrah's back injury and his availability for the T20 World Cup but knowing the star pacer is not available for the remainder of the series, India would want to put their head down and focus on the job in hand when they take on South Africa on Sunday, October 2.
Jasprit Bumrah has been ruled out of the ongoing 3-match series against South Africa due to a back injury, weeks after he returned to action following an injury layoff. Speculation is rife about Bumrah's chances of playing the World Cup in Australia later in October and even head coach Rahul Dravid addressed questions about the pacer on Saturday.
However, as Dravid explained, India will be looking to overcome injury concerns and get the job done with highly-rated alternative resources, especially in the bowling unit. India did not have Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar in the first T20I but Deepak Chahar and Arshdeep Singh rose to the occasion to decimate South Africa's top-order before the visitors recovered and posted 106 for 8 on the board in 20 overs.
India would want Arshdeep Singh and Deepak Chahar to deliver at the top as they look to solidify their options for the T20 World Cup. While Arshdeep is part of the squad, Chahar has been named in the reserves. India would also want Harshal Patel to continue his good work from the first T20I. Head coach Dravid backed the experienced pacer, who has had an inconsistent run since his comeback from a rib injury.
It remains to be seen if India will give the likes of Mohammed Siraj and Umesh Yadav a go, considering they are not part of the T20 World Cup squad. While Siraj was added as Bumrah's replacement, Umesh replaced Mohammed Shami, who contracted Covid-19 ahead of the T20I series against Australia in September.
On the other hand, KL Rahul will be in focus once again as the India vice-captain's strike rate has been a major talking point ever since he returned to the side in the Asia Cup. Rahul made 51 off 56 balls in the first T20I but the star batter soaked in pressure and saw off South Africa's new-ball attack on a difficult pitch. India will be hoping to see more consistency at a better strike rate from Rahul.
While Axar Patel has shone in the opportunities that he has got after Ravindra Jadeja's knee injury, India will also be looking at R Ashwin and Yuzvendra Chahal's showings. While Ashwin was picked ahead of Chahal in Thiruvananthapuram, the leg-spinner might get another go to prove his mettle.
