The caravan now travels to the shortest format after the ICC Men’s ODI World Cup 2023, as Team India prepares to face Australia in a five-match home T20I series. The first T20I is set for Thursday, November 23 at the Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Vishakhapatnam.
India has only played three T20Is at the venue, winning two and losing one.
The ground in Visakhapatnam, located on the country’s southeast coast, is normally favorable for batting but also helps slow bowlers. However, the weather may have a role, since there may be cloudy circumstances.
The last time India played a Twenty20 International at Vizag was in June 2022. The third match of a five-match T20I series versus South Africa was played at the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium and finished in a 2-2 tie.
India got off to a flying start after being put in to bat first. The openers put on a 97-run partnership in 10 overs for the first wicket. Ruturaj Gaikwad, in particular, stood out as he made full use of the powerplay constraints.
He made 57 from 35 balls, including seven fours and two sixes. Meanwhile, Ishan Kishan (54) played second fiddle, although both openers were dismissed shortly after reaching their fifties. When both Shreyas Iyer (14) and Rishabh Pant (6) lost their wickets in rapid succession, the impetus was gone.
Hardik Pandya, on the other hand, gave it his all to ensure India set a target of 180 in the second innings. South African bowlers bowled exceptionally effectively in the death overs, conceding only 51 runs in the final seven overs.
The Temba Bavuma-led team never got going in response. While Axar Patel gave back the South African captain, Harshal Patel took Reeza Hendricks (23).
Yuzvendra Chahal, who had been having a bad run of form, stormed back in style, decimating the middle order with his cunning. In back-to-back overs, he bowled Rassie van der Dussen (1) and Dwaine Pretorius (20) before Harshal trumped David Miller (3) with a slower ball.
Chahal struck the winning blow in his last over, dismissing Heinrich Klaasen (29) to conclude his run with 3/20. Harshal also returned with a career-best 4/25 as India bowled South Africa out for 131 to win by 48 runs.
India’s preparation for the 2024 T20 World Cup begins with the T20I series vs Australia
Following the recently ended 2023 ODI World Cup, the T20 World Cup 2024, which will be held by the United States and the West Indies, will be the next major marquee event.
India, in urgent need of an ICC trophy, will kick off their preparations for the T20 World Cup 2024 with a T20I series against Australia.
With the biannual event barely seven months away, India would be hoping that the picked players fulfill their roles in the absence of key veteran players.
After completing the five-match series against Australia, the Indian cricket team has a limited number of T20I matches scheduled until the T20 World Cup in 2024. Later this year, India will participate in a three-match T20I series against South Africa on their home ground. In January 2024, they will also host Afghanistan for three more matches.
