India and South Africa meet in the first of three T20s on Friday when the Proteas begin their 10 week tour in the picturesque surroundings of Dharamsala.
With the World T20 closing in at the end of the winter this series won’t be the mundane uncompetitive fare that plenty of other matches in this format are internationally. Both sides will use the three matches to prepare for that tournament particularly with it being held here in India.
India will be playing their first match against a top nation in over a year in the 20 over format and so it will be interesting to see how quickly they are up to the pace and acclimatised to the conditions they encounter in this match.
South Africa have been much busier in recent times. They are not long off a mini series with New Zealand and they had a warm up match for this tour against India A earlier in the week so their extra activity could give them an edge, or so they will hope.
India go into this series without a couple of key bowlers in Ishant Sharma and Mohammad Shami so Mohit Sharma could get the call to partner Bhuvneshwar Kumar with the new ball. Ravindra Jadeja isn’t in the squad so India could lack that powerful finisher which could be important.
Apart from Dale Steyn anyone who is likely to play in a full strength South Africa side is available to play here so there is no doubt that the tourists are taking this series seriously. Hashim Amla arrived late to the tour so he might sit this opening match out. AB de Villiers is set to open the batting.
The Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala is the venue for this match. This will be the first time the ground has staged an international T20 but it has held ODIs before and has featured in the Indian Premier League.
The ground is at altitude so the ball flies further and the aerial conditions allow for swing so this is a ground which suits the sides outside of Asia so the Proteas will fancy their chances. The boundaries aren’t the biggest here so we should be thinking of seeing big scores in this match.
I like the South Africans in this match. I think the conditions will suit their pace attack which with Kyle Abbott, Marchant de Lange and Kagiso Rabada in it needs no added help. There is a lot of talk about the dew around the place so that may well negate the Indian spinners too so there is enough to suggest South Africa are overpriced here.
Given the dew factor that is around here and the fact we’re at altitude on fairly small boundaries all coupled with the fact that this is Dharamsala’s big day in the spotlight which should ensure we get a decent wicket I think we’re going to see a number of sixes in this match. Neither side lack for big hitters so I’m expecting at least a dozen maximums in this one.
Back South Africa to win 1st T20 for a 4/10 stake at 2.20 with Ladbrokes
Back 12 or more sixes for a 4/10 stake at 1.83 with Bet365
Blog cricket YTD: +17.67pts
