India Vs South Africa: Here's the Probable India XI for 2nd T20I in Centurion

Centurion, Feb 20: India skipper Virat Kohli would be eyeing another clinical performance from his team in the second T20I against South Africa and hoping to clinch the series when they step out in Centurion on Wednesday (February 21).

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India defeated South Africa by a huge margin of 28 runs in the first T20I and went 1-nil up in the three-match series. The Men In Blue won the one-day series against South Africa by a margin of 5-1 and registered their first-ever series win over Proteas in the latter's backyard.

India first posted huge 203 runs on the board and later restricted the hosts to 175 and registered a convincing win. Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Shikhar Dhawan emerged as the chief architects of India's win as the entire team performed well as a unit. The visitors had outclassed the Proteas in every department.

Coming into the second game, Kohli would be hoping another dominating effort from his team for they are just one win away from clinching the maiden double series win on this tour for India.

The visitors fielded left-arm pacer Jaydev Unadkat in place of Chinaman Kuldeep Yadav, who was injured in the first T20I. Kuldeep was the leading wicket-taker in the ODI series against South Africa as India came out victorious in the 50-overs series.

Kuldeep along with his spin-twin Yuzvendra Chahal bagged 33 wickets from six matches as South Africa cantered to a 5-1 defeat in the ODIs.

Team India would, thus, come up with an attacking approach and continue their dominating streak against hosts and claim the T20I series.

The team looked almost settled against Proteas in the first T20I, hence we do not expect too much of changes on the Indian side. If Kuldeep is fit then, skipper Kohli might reinstate him for the Centurion track has favoured the spinners in the ODI series, and Unadkat may have to make way for the UP spinner.

Here is the Probable India XI for the 2nd T20I:

1. Rohit Sharma

The right-handed batsman had a mixed ODI series after a disappointing Test series against the Proteas but Rohit started with a bang in the first T20I.

In the first T20I, Rohit started proceedings very aggressively. In his 9-ball cameo, the right-handed batsman scored 21. The Mumbaikar smashed two sixes and as many boundaries in his short stay at the crease. His strike rate was a whopping 233 in that short innings. It was his explosive start that laid a solid foundation for the visitors to score.

Team would be hoping another electrifying start from their vice-captain in the second game but at the same time they would also hope the Hitman scores big as well.

2. Shikhar Dhawan

The left-handed batsman was the highest run scorer from either side in the previous game. His explosive knock of 72 runs which came off just 39 deliveries ensured India cross 200-mark even after scoring 93 runs in the final 10 overs.

Dhawan was in an ominous form in the ODIs and continued with similar intensity in the first T20I. The southpaw dominated every bowler and scored runs all round the park. In 52-of his runs off 72, came in boundaries and sixes as India scored above 10 runs per over.

Along with skipper Kohli, Dhawan has been going all guns blazing against the Proteas and that gave the visitors a solid start. The team must be eying another good show from Dhawan in the second T20I as well.

3. Suresh Raina

The veteran batsman made a comeback to the side after a big gap. One of the most successful batsmen for India in the T20s, Raina had a rather short stay at the crease in the first T20I.

The southpaw, who was sent ahead of in-form Kohli, started hitting from the word go. Like Rohit, Raina was dismissed early while trying to slog the Proteas in the first powerplay. Raina was dismissed for 15 off just 7 balls before he was dismissed while attempting to slog.

It was the explosive batting; first by Rohit and later by Raina that ensured India registered their best ever performance in the first six overs.

In the second T20I, skipper Kohli might once again promote Raina and team would expect a slightly bigger innings from the swashbuckler.

4. Virat Kohli

The skipper and team's batting mainstay has been in ominous form on this tour. Kohli showed his class all through the ODI series and slammed unprecedented three centuries and aggregated 558 runs in the series.

The right-handed batsman has registered 909 rating points in the ICC ODI rankings to create record.

Kohli looked in good touch in the first T20I before being trapped by Tabraiz Shamsi for 26, but the kind of strokes he played in his short stay were simply amazing. Kohli was playing the role of sheath anchor in the game as Dhawan was scoring runs at will.

However, team as well as his fans must be hoping Kohli slams at least a half-century in the second T20I.

5. Manish Pandey

The right-handed batsman from Karnataka was given a chance in the first T20I and made the most of the opportunity he was given. Pandey played an unbeaten knock of 27-ball 29.

However, many felt that the right-handed batsman could have batted a bit aggressively but considering the fact that the Proteas were bowling well in the death overs Pandey stiched crucial partnerships and took the visitors past 200.

Pandey needs to be shown some confidence as the promising youngster had done exceptionally well when he led India A against South Africa, here last year. Hence, he'll be given a chance in the second T20I.

6. MS Dhoni

The veteran India wicketkeeper-batsman looked in sublime touch in the first T20I and scored 16 off 10 balls before getting dismissed in the 19th over. Dhoni came in to bat after Dhawan's departure but he ensured the visitors do not lose wickets in heap and fell short of projected 200.

He hasn't been able to strike the ball as well as he used to do but till the time he was present at the crease the Proteas were always at vary of him and avoided bowling loose deliveries.

7. Hardik Pandya

The all-rounder will once again be asked to perform his duties as a batting all-rounder in the second T20I. Pandya bowled well in the first game as well and scored 13 off 7 deliveries and took India past 200.

Pandya could even be promoted ahead of Dhoni if needed for he's capable of hitting big shots. He hasn't been at his explosive best on this tour of South Africa with the bat and is a major concern for the team. He must be eager to prove his mettle in the remaining two games.

8. Yuzvendra Chahal/Axar Patel

The wrist spinner featured in the first T20I in Johannesburg but he was quite expensive in that game. However, Chahal grabbed the wicket of Farhaan Behardien at a crucial juncture but conceded runs at 9.8 per over.

Chahal would be hoping to come out better in the second T20I and frustrate the Protea batsmen with his variations.

However, considering Chahal proved quite expensive in the previous game, the skipper might try bringing in Axar Patel in the second T20I and give some match experience to the spinner.

9. Kuldeep Yadav/Jaydev Unadkat

The Chinaman, who emerged as the highest wicket-taker in the ODI series, couldn't play in the first T20I due to injury.

In Kuldeep's absence, team management fielded pacer Jaydev Unadkat in the playing XI. The pacer, who emerged as the costliest India in the IPL Auction 2018, did well.

If Kuldeep doesn't get fit, then Kohli might once again go with Unadkat, else the UP-spinner might return to the Indian squad.

10. Bhuvneshwar Kumar

The strike pacer was the match-winner for India as he returned with career-best figures of 5/24 from his quota of 4 overs. Bhuvneshwar was very lethal in the first T20I and rattled the Protea batting line-up with his knuckle-balls.

Bhuvneshwar claimed his maiden five-wicket haul in T20I to emerge as the architect of India's victory at the Wanderers. He's also the first Indian bowler to claim a five-wicket haul in all three formats of the game and team must be hoping another clinical performance from the Meerut boy.

11. Jasprit Bumrah

The number one-ranked bowler in ICC ODI rankings, Jasprit Bumrah will once again lead the Indian pace battery along with Bhuvneshwar.

He might have remained wicketless in the last game but wasn't ineffective. Bumrah was once again at his economical best in Johannesburg and ensured South Africa never reach home in the run chase.