KOLKATA: India need to set the team composition right as they look to restore pride and prevent South Africa from recording a clean sweep when the two teams clash in the third and final Twenty20 International here at the Eden Gardens on Thursday.

The series was done and dusted in Cuttack after India’s humiliating six-wicket defeat as South Africa sent the hosts packing for their second lowest total of 92 in a match which was interrupted twice due to unruly crowd behaviour.

India had suffered a similar result in Bangladesh in June when they lost two ODIs on the trot before conceding the series 1-2 in their first-ever series defeat to the hosts.

The third T20 may have been rendered inconsequential but it would be of great importance for India skipper M.S. Dhoni, who would look to get into a winning momentum before the five-match ODI series against the visitors.

For this to happen, Dhoni may have to let go his preferred picks in Ambati Rayudu and Axar Patel in favour of Ajinkya Rahane and Amit Mishra.

Dhoni’s selection of Rayudu ahead of Rahane, considered one of the best players of the format, has come under severe criticism.

There is a strong possibility that the elegant right-hander will be included to lend a stability to the side especially after their Cuttack collapse.

The Eden strip is expected to be a spinner’s paradise, and India must capitalise by curbing the South Africans strokeplay on a surface which may not be conducive to batting.

Despite being the most successful Indian skipper, with a World T20 title, 50-overs World Cup and also Champions Trophy triumph to his credit, a certain section believes that days are numbered for the 34-year-old.

The latest defeat to South Africa had added serious pressure on Dhoni, once considered the king of the limited-overs format. Though there’s absolutely no doubt about his fitness, Dhoni’s stroke-making skills have started to elude him, something that’s evident in the slide of his strike-rate.

The visitors, on the other hand, have so far persisted with one specialist spinner in Imran Tahir, and J.P. Duminy doing a part-time role.

Duminy along with David Miller may play an extended role in bowling if Faf du Plessis opts for the same attack that outdid India in their home conditions.

The Proteas have another option in leg-spinner Eddie Leie but it remains to be seen whether Faf risks him for the Eden T20.

The inclusion of Albie Morkel, who secured his best performance in T20I with 3-12 in a twist of fate to his sagging career, was a masterstroke.

Squads:

INDIA: M.S. Dhoni (captain), Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu, Axar Patel, Harbhajan Singh, Ravichandran Ashwin, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane, Amit Mishra, Stuart Binny and S Aravind.

SOUTH AFRICA: Faf du Plessis (captain), Hashim Amla, A.B. de Villiers, J.P. Duminy, Farhaan Behardien, David Miller, Chris Morris, Kagiso Rabada, Kyle Abott, Albie Morkel, Imran Tahir, Quninto de Kock, Eddie Leie, Marchant de Lange and Kyaya Zondo.

Published in Dawn, October 8th , 2015

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