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Get ready for a T20 showdown as India takes on South Africa in the series decider! Both teams have come roaring back after dropping the opening game, making this a match with everything on the line.
That's no little matter, given that the weather ruined the opening men's T20I series match at Kingsmead on Sunday and forced the postponement of Tuesday's game at St George's Park due to another cloudburst.
Even the spectacular show the weather puts on in Johannesburg has to yield to the match, as even the most ardent admirers of the electrical thunderstorms that dazzle the Highveld during South Africa's summers, agree. They need as much game time as they can get, as both teams will only play four more Twenty20 Internationals before the World Cup in the Caribbean and the United States in June.
One of the most interesting aspects of T20 cricket is Suryakumar Yadav's shots over the wicketkeeper. At the next T20 World Cup, Reeza Hendricks will bat first for South Africa, no matter who his opening partner is. As far as India's finisher goes, Rinku Singh is leading the race, and Tabraiz Shamsi has developed into a T20 banker. That's not too awful in a series when there was complete flooding during the first game and some rain during the second.
This implies that we haven't seen a complete Twenty20 match yet, and the major hope is that the Wanderers will provide one. Even if it did, neither side is operating at maximum capacity, and by releasing Marco Jansen and Gerald Coetzee, South Africa further depleted their reserves.
Deepak Chahar, who has stayed at home for personal reasons, means that India is also without a vital player. In the wet conditions at St George's Park, both sets of seamers found it difficult to be consistent, so they will want to perfect their discipline in the final. They only had to look at Mohammed Siraj, whose lines were excellent, for inspiration.
Despite their outstanding performances in Gqeberha, the spinners are unlikely to receive much support in Johannesburg and may find themselves at the center of batting lineups that feature both headlining attractions. Hendricks' recent run of form has seen him average 51.50 in his 12 T20Is, and India's middle-order duo of Rinku and Suryakumar is quite potent.
This is a match too close to call! Both teams have the firepower to win on any given day. It will likely come down to who executes better under pressure and capitalizes on key moments. Expect a nail-biting finish with plenty of drama!
Key Factors to Watch: Toss: Winning the toss could be crucial in choosing to chase or set a target on what is expected to be a good batting surface.
Powerplay: Both teams boast aggressive openers, so whoever dominates the early overs could gain a significant advantage.
Spin vs Bat: The battle between India's spinners and South Africa's middle order will be a key matchup, as the Proteas often struggle against quality spin bowling.
