Rishabh Pant in focus as India look to seal T20I series

Overview

India v South Africa, 3rd T20I
M Chinnaswamy Stadium, Bengaluru
Sunday, 22 September; 07:00pm local, 01:30pm GMT

India’s chief concern will be with Rishabh Pant. There has been increased scrutiny on the 21-year-old, especially after Virat Kohli and Ravi Shastri urged better decision-making from the wicket-keeper batsman, and his dismissal for 4 in Mohali, with Kohli watching at the other end, will only serve to train the spotlights even more on him in Bengaluru.

Shreyas Iyer, meanwhile, has been making a case for himself – there were two half-centuries in the one-day internationals in the West Indies – and the management might consider moving him up to No.4, with Pant dropping down to No.5.

As for South Africa, there were encouraging signs in Mohali. Quinton de Kock showed captaincy was no burden on his individual form with a 37-ball 52. But that was perhaps the only real positive.

After de Kock’s fall, South Africa had a worrying lack of intensity that stopped them from posting something in the region of 180. Temba Bavuma scored 49 on debut, but his strike-rate of 113.95 will need to be upped drastically in T20Is.

Remember the last time

Virat Kohli’s crisp stroke-play was there for all to see as he guided India’s chase of 150. He first put on a 61-run partnership with Shikhar Dhawan (40 off 31) for the second wicket and then an unbroken 47 with Shreyas (16* off 14) for the fourth to complete the chase with an over to spare. Earlier, South Africa captain de Kock had given them a solid start, but the middle order failed to build on it, and they were restricted to 149/5.

What they said

Shikhar Dhawan, India opener: "As senior players, when we see the [youngsters] coming in, we make sure we do communication, make sure their nerves are calm … communication is very important. Any time any youngster wants to discuss something with us, we’re there."

Quinton de Kock, South Africa captain: "There was a lot of pressure coming in for some of the new guys, and I thought they played really well [in Mohali]. Obviously, we didn't get a winning start, but I thought they held their nerve very well."

Conditions

Rains are forecast in Bengaluru, which creates a high possibility of the match being interrupted. But with the M Chinnaswamy Stadium's revamped drainage system, chances of play getting underway are high, should rain relent.