SA vs IND: Sunil Gavaskar wants one change in the final T20I

After a dominating ODI series win against the Proteas, India’s caravan came to halt in the second T20 of the ongoing T20I series as the resurgent South Africans looked determined to turn things around in the shortest version of the game. In a game that was played under a constant drizzle, even a score of 188 looked modest as the Proteas comfortably went on to chase the target with six wickets in hand.

The drizzle did help the home team as it made life difficult for the Indian bowlers especially the leg-spinner, Yuzvendra Chahal who conceded 64 runs and went wicket-less in his quota of four overs, displaying unarguably his worst performance on the tour. In what now is the decider of the series as well as for the tour, both the camps would be looking to go all out with their best XI to end the tour on a high.

On the verge of a successful tour

Having already won the ODI series, India is on the verge of writing history as a win in the final T-20 would do a great to their confidence after the 2-1 loss in the Test series. The legendary Sunil Gavaskar, in his column for TOI, wrote about the probable changes that visitors would fancy for the ultimate game. He mentioned about the golden opportunity that lies ahead for the visitors in the tour finale.

“India will consider the tour a success if they prevail over the Proteas in Newlands. The South Africans batted brilliantly to win the second game at Centurion. It was not just the win, but the manner in which they dealt with their tormentor in the One-day series, Yuzvendra Chahal that will please them,” he wrote.

The former cricketer, who is in the Rainbow nation for his commentary stint even mentioned about the difference in the pitches that has enabled the South African batters to finally get rid of Chahal’s leg spin. In his view, “The pitches at Centurion and Johannesburg have been on the slower side and when Chahal flights the ball, it comes even slower off the pitch, which lets the Proteas batsmen, especially Klassen, to use the depth of the crease to pull him or loft him,” he alluded.

Axar might get a chance

He even heaped praises for the grit shown by the Proteas’ batsmen, especially Duminy and Klaasen as they gave it back to the bowlers but was even quick to suggest a change in the 3rd T20I considering the leg spinner’s dismal show in the previous encounter. “Duminy joined the fun a little later, but during their partnership, he smartly kept giving the strike to Klassen who was charged up and hitting just about everything off the middle of the bat. This is the second game that Chahal has been hammered, so it won’t be a surprise if Axar Patel gets to play in his place at Newlands,” he added.

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