SA vs IND 2024: Why is Patrick Kruger not playing the second T20I?

The luck was once again on Aiden Markram & Co.'s side as the South African skipper won the toss and chose to bowl first in the second T20I of the four-match series. Playing at the St. George's Park, Gqeberha, Markram revealed that the overcast condition was a major factor in deciding to let India set a target, to have a better assessment of the plans.

After a sensational win in the first fixture, India were always going to enter the contest with a huge amount of confidence. The Men in Blue skipper, Suryakumar Yadav also explained the rationale behind picking a playing combination that helps in maintaining the good habits with regard to a team.

South Africa made a single change ahead of the second encounter, as top-order batter Reeza Hendricks came back in place of Patrick Kruger, as the hosts felt him as the better addition to chase the target down at the St. George's Park, as reckoned by captain Markram at the toss. Hendricks wasn't available for the opening encounter, and Kruger was added to the XI, however, the batter had to vacate his place given the incoming of Hendricks, and naturally so.

Not concerned about outcome or result: Markram

"We are going to bowl first again. With rain around, that's the obvious part. Hope the bowlers use the moisture. Kruger is out, Hendricks is in. We are not concerned about the outcome or result," Markram was quoted as saying at the toss.

The Indian team, on the other hand, did not make any changes and chose to stick to their winning combination, as Suryakumar reasoned maintaining good habits as the factor for not making unnecessary changes to their Playing XI.

"We wanted to bat first and play same brand of cricket, happy with the things in the last match. You always learn something or the other in every game. We want to continue the good habits. No changes, playing with the same XI," the Indian captain told.

Also Check: SA vs IND Live Score, 2nd T20I

SA vs IND 2024, 2nd T20I: Playing XIs

India: Sanju Samson (wk), Abhishek Sharma, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Ravi Bishnoi, Varun Chakaravarthy, Avesh Khan

South Africa: Ryan Rickelton, Reeza Hendricks, Aiden Markram (c), Tristan Stubbs, Heinrich Klaasen(w), David Miller, Marco Jansen, Andile Simelane, Gerald Coetzee, Keshav Maharaj, Nqabayomzi Peter