Last Updated on 4 weeks by Charbel Coorey

IND vs SA 1st T20 Dream11 Prediction & Fan2Play Possible 11 Pitch Report | IND vs SA 1st T20 Dream11 Prediction Today | Thiruvananthapuram Pitch Report

Preparations for the T20 World Cup continue with take two of India v South Africa in 2022. The teams drew 2-2 in a five-match series in June this year, with Bengaluru rain robbing us of a result in a duel that ebbed and flowed.

After Asia Cup disappointment, India beat Australia in a three-match series, with victory in the final T20I orchestrated by the classy Suryakumar Yadav and Virat Kohli. Death bowling remains a key area of focus, and with Arshdeep Singh back in the squad for this series, he may possibly get the nod against a powerful Proteas batting lineup.

Speaking of South Africa, Temba Bavuma returns to captain a team that has been in terrific form this year. Lungi Ngidi, who may not even find a place in a strong bowling attack despite his good performances, spoke of the promise this young Proteas team is showing.

“We’ve got a lot of young players in our team, too, and if we are putting in the performances with these guys now, once they settle into their roles I can only imagine what’s going to happen. So we’re in a pretty good space,” he said in an recent interview.

IND vs SA 1st T20 Possible Playing XI

Rohit Sharma previously stated that Virat Kohli may open in these run of games against Australia and South Africa. Today could be the day he opens.

Hardik Pandya has been rested for this series. Shahbaz Ahmed has replaced him in the squad. Also, Shreyas Iyer has reportedly been included in the squad for the injured Deepak Hooda.

India: 1. Rohit Sharma (c), 2. KL Rahul, 3. Virat Kohli, 4. Suryakumar Yadav, 5. Shreyas Iyer, 6. Dinesh Karthik (wk), 7. Axar Patel, 8. Bhuvneshwar Kumar/Deepak Chahar, 9. Yuzvendra Chahal, 10. Arshdeep Singh/Harshal Patel, 11. Jasprit Bumrah

Temba Bavuma, whose T20 credentials copped a huge blow last week, is back to lead what looks to be a strong South Africa team. David Miller, who has been excellent when chasing in T20s this year, spoke of the Proteas’ strengths.

“We’re playing really, really well as a team…Individual performance is obviously crucial and the lads are putting their hands up when they need to. But as a team, we’ve bought into what we want to do and what works,” he said in an interview with Betway.

South Africa: 1. Reeza Hendricks, 2. Quinton de Kock (wk), 3. Temba Bavuma (c), 4. Aiden Markram, 5. Rilee Rossouw, 6. David Miller, 7. Dwaine Pretorius/Andile Phehlukwayo, 8. Keshav Maharaj, 9. Kagiso Rabada, 10. Anrich Nortje/Lungi Ngidi, 11. Tabraiz Shamsi

IND vs SA Head-to-Head Stats & Key Players

India:

• Virat Kohli is returning back to some of his best form. He has struck four 50+ scores in his last seven innings, including 63 vs Australia and a drought-breaking 71st century.
• Suryakumar Yadav continues to impress. His strike rate of 182.84 this year is easily the highest among India players who have batted at least five times in 2022. Overall, he has struck 682 runs in 20 innings (avg. 37.88) with five 50+ scores.
• Watch out for Dinesh Karthik as a finisher. He hit 92 runs against South Africa earlier this year at a strike rate of 158.62. Also, in two T20 innings on this ground, Karthik has scored two fifties at an overall strike rate of 163.01.
• Axar Patel was outstanding against Australia. The left-arm spinner was awarded player of the series courtesy of his eight wickets at an average of 7.87 and economy of 6.30.
• India may keep Axar for Aiden Markram. Markram has been dismissed three times by left-arm orthodox in 28 balls in T20s this year (36 runs).
• Bhuvneshwar Kumar has the most wickets in IND-SA T20Is (14) at an average of 17.00 and economy of 6.80. Earlier this year, he was superb value for his six wickets in four games vs SA, which included figures of 4/13.

South Africa:

• Quinton de Kock has struck two fifties in five T20I innings against India. His 173 runs come at an average of 43.25 and strike rate of 139.51.
• Reeza Hendricks is having a dream year as opener, so the Proteas may be tempted to bat Bavuma at three. In seven innings this year, Hendricks has scored 323 runs at an average of 46.14 and strike rate of 139.82. This includes four consecutive half-centuries.
• Aiden Markram was unavailable for the T20Is against India earlier this year. Now, he will be aiming to make up for lost time. In 15 T20 innings this year, Markram has smashed 515 runs at an average of 51.50 and strike rate of 148.41.
• Kagiso Rabada has a good record against Virat Kohli. The pacer has dismissed Virat four times in 35 balls in T20s, conceding just 39 runs in the process.
• Tabraiz Shamsi took figures of 1/102 off ten overs in India earlier this year. Since then, he took 11 wickets in five T20Is against England and Ireland.

Other Stats and Facts

• Head-to-head: Matches 20, India 11, South Africa 8, 1 N/R.
• South Africa lead India 5-3 in India.
• There may be a case to give Deepak Chahar a run in this game. The seamer has taken nine wickets in just four T20s on this ground at an average of 14.22 and strike rate of 9.67.
• Harshal Patel took the most wickets in the IND-SA T20Is earlier this year (7) at a strike rate of 10.4 and economy of just 7.23.
• Temba Bavuma has scored just 13 runs off 25 balls against Bhuvneshwar Kumar in T20Is (one dismissal).
• Dwaine Pretorius was South Africa’s leading wicket-taker in India earlier this year (5) at a strike rate of 18 and economy of 9.66.

Greenfield International Stadium Thiruvananthapuram Pitch Report and Weather

This will be the first T20 match on this ground since West Indies beat India by eight wickets in 2019. In that game, India scored 170 but struggled against the Windies’ cutters and spinners. The same could be the case in this match in terms of the pitch.

There is a chance of some rain during the day and evening. Expect the captain who wins the toss to choose to chase.

IND vs SA 1st T20 Dream11 Prediction 28 September 2022

Note: The below teams are not based on the final playing XIs. We may not be able to update these in time. Use the stats and commentary in this article as well as your own instincts to create your teams.

Option 1:

Option 2:

Fan2Play Prediction

Base Team:

• Wicket-Keepers: Quinton de Kock
• Batsmen: Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav
• All-Rounders: Aiden Markram, Axar Patel
• Bowlers: Kagiso Rabada, Jasprit Bumrah

IND vs SA 1st T20 Match Prediction: Who Will Win?

The chasing team is likelier to win. India start as favourites with recent matches under their belt.