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India and South Africa have just five Twenty20
Internationals left to choose their lineups for the 2024 T20 World Cup in the
West Indies and the USA, after the series opener in Durban washed out.
Before we even discuss the significance of the
cricket, the first T20I in Durban has been sold out since the end of last
month, the other white-ball matches are anticipated to draw large crowds as
well, and the tour’s overall financial boost is estimated to be around R1
billion (approximately US $52.7 million).
Reeza Hendricks, who is poised to be handed a
long-overdue run in both white-ball forms, even though there is still no
certainty of a spot in the T20 World Cup, is the biggest benefit of Quinton de
Kock’s absence. Hendricks scored four times as many runs in Twenty20
Internationals for South Africa in 2022, while playing half as many games as
the second- and third-highest scorers and three fewer than their leading
scorer. Hendricks is the top run scorer in South Africa this season. With seven
half-centuries in his previous 11 Twenty20 International innings, he should be
a lock for the T20 World Cup in 2019. His place will be confirmed with a few
more strong performances.
After finishing as the highest wicket-taker in India’s
most recent Twenty20 International series against Australia and ascending to
the top of the ICC T20I bowling rankings, Ravi Bishnoi has had an incredible
start to December. He might present a fresh challenge to South Africa’s lineup,
which hasn’t played him in this format and still struggles against the more
cunning legspinners, with his peculiar run-up. Bishnoi is anticipated to be a
greater threat in the shorter format. In October of last year, he participated
in his first ODI match against South Africa, taking 1 for 69 in eight overs.
It remains to be seen whether Deepak Chahar, who had
missed the last T20I against Australia because of a medical emergency, is
available for this series. At the top, India will have to pick between the
returning Shubman Gill and Ruturaj Gaikwad. And if India can accommodate just
one spinner, there will be a toss-up between Bishnoi and Kuldeep Yadav.