India’s need to start out the method of discovering a super mixture for the T20 World Cup 2024 suffered a minor dent as their first match in opposition to South Africa was deserted with out a ball being bowled after persistent rain right here on Sunday.
A basic view of the digital board displaying the message that play has been deserted attributable to rain on the first T20 cricket match between South Africa and India at Kingsmead Stadium in Durban(AFP)
In reality, even the toss didn’t happen. Now, the ‘Men in Blue’ are left with simply 5 T20Is – two extra in opposition to the Proteas and three video games in opposition to Afghanistan at house in January – forward of subsequent yr’s showpiece within the West Indies and the USA.
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In that context, India would have favored to make a head begin to their seek for an ideal mix at Kingsmead however rain put paid to these hopes briefly. With the IPL 2024 previous the T20 World Cup, the Indian think-tank will definitely financial institution on the league to determine the perfect 15 for the marquee occasion.
India stand-in captain Suryakumar prompt as a lot. “I feel there are limited T20s going forward, before the T20 World Cup. But then we play 14 league games in the IPL as well,” Suryakumar had mentioned during his pre-match press meet on Saturday.
But then nothing really can supplant the confidence a player can accrue while performing well in international matches, and the weight of a good outing doubles if the touring destination is South Africa. It also offers the management a more realistic yardstick about a player’s ability.
The first-time visitors to the ‘Rainbow Nation’ such as Rinku Singh, Jitesh Sharma, Arshdeep Singh etc would have been eager to get that unique taste of cricket here and now they would have to wait till Tuesday for the second match at St George’s Park at Gqeberha, formerly known as Port Elizabeth.
From a leadership perspective, Suryakumar has done a very fine job while stepping in for injured Hardik Pandya during the home T20I series against the Aussies. Suryakumar led from the front in India’s 4-1 series victory.
The 33-year-old would have liked to make a winning start here against the Proteas to underline his credentials to give the bigwigs another name potentially to consider for the captain’s role, if it ever comes to that.
It wasn’t entirely amusing then to hear the Mumbai man talking about his comfort while shepherding a young side.
“From private perspective, it (captaincy) is a giant duty. I actually loved it within the final sequence (in opposition to Australia). I’d like to do the identical (profitable the sequence) within the coming sequence in South Africa.
“But from a larger perspective, we’ll see what comes ahead but for now let’s focus on the series,” he had mentioned on Saturday.
The Durban T20I may even have handed India an opportunity to check their choices for the sixth bowler slot, one thing that assumes significance as Pandya’s health continues to be iffy.
They, maybe, may have tried the part-time spin of Tilak Varma, who not too long ago bowled just a few overs for Hyderabad within the Syed Mushtaq Ali Trophy, and Yashasvi Jaiswal.
Suryakumar didn’t present a particular reply to the sixth bowling conundrum, however mentioned they’ve sufficient personnel of their ranks to fill in that function. “It is not like we don’t have a sixth bowling option. When the right time comes, you will see the sixth bowler or maybe the seventh or eighth (bowler),” he had mentioned. But for now, India should hit the assembly room and reinforce their plans forward of the second match.
Source: www.hindustantimes.com
