After the Australia T20I series India had just 6 international matches to prepare for the T20 World Cup 2024, set to be played in June next year. That preparation time was cut down to five after rain washed out the first match at Durban on Sunday, 10 December. Due to non-stop rainfall in Durban, even the toss did not take place, and India would be hoping for some game-time as a team before the world tournament.

India’s tour of South Africa: Full Coverage

India have now travelled to Gqberha formerly known as Port Elizabeth to play the 2nd T20I against the Proteas, which also might be rain affected on Tuesday, 12 December. There are chances of rainfall through the match hours on Tuesday. The probability of rainfall is higher at the start of the game, which means that we could have a delayed start. Barring the probability of rain things do not change much for India going into the second game.

It is expected that India will play their strongest XI in the second game. India will possibly start with Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill and bench centurion Ruturaj Gaikwad. One can expect that India will stick with spinner Ravi Bishnoi who has done well in the T20I series against India.

This will be a big chance for India youngsters to put their hands up for the T20 World Cup, like Rinku Singh has done already. The match will also be a test for the young players to see how they adapt to the starkly different conditions of South Africa.

South Africa have confirmed their opening pair already in Rezza Hendricks and Matthew Breetzke. Tristan Stubbs might get a chance against India while Andile Phehlukwayo might play ahead of Marco Jansen.

Match Details

SA vs IND: 2nd T20I

Venue: St George’s Oval, Gqeberha

Timing: 8:30 PM IST

Broadcast: Star Sports

Pitch and Conditions

With rain looming at the start of the match one can expect the ball to seam around, even for a little bit. During the SA20 match earlier this year, Gqeberha hhad decent help for the pacers.

Predicted Playing XIs

South Africa

Reeza Hendricks, Matthew Breetzke, Tristan Stubbs (wk), Aiden Markram (c), Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Andile Phehlukwayo, Keshav Maharaj, Gerald Coetzee, Nandre Burger, Tabraiz Shamsi

India

Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, Suryakumar Yadav (C), Rinku Singh, Jitesh Sharma (WK), Ravindra Jadeja, Mukesh Kumar, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohammed Siraj, Arshdeep Singh.