India Vs South Africa T20 preview: Will Rishabh Pant's leadership be able to put on a solid show against South Africa?

With 130 days left for the T20 World Cup to commence, cricket superstars are back in action, this time in national colours. India has chosen to rest new captain Rohit Sharma, former skipper Virat Kohli, and pace spearhead Jasprit Bumrah for the five-match series. Additionally, earlier appointed captains for the series, KL Rahul and Kuldeep Yadav, have also been ruled out one day before the match due to injury. It has opened doors for Rishabh Pant to debut as white-ball captain for India in the series. 

Despite key players missing out, India has a vast pool of quality players with all the arsenals to dominate proceedings on home turf. The most exciting part for fans would be Hardik Pandya and Dinesh Karthik making a comeback to the national team, and both the players will be looking forward to carrying forward their form from IPL. Rishabh Pant's composure in leading the team will catch many eyes as his captaincy in IPL also gathered quite a criticism. Other exciting prospects in the bowling department would be Umran Malik's sheer raw pace and death bowling options in Harshal Patel and Arshdeep Singh. 

Apart from India, Test skipper Dean Elgar hinted that players who chose IPL over staying home for the Bangladesh test series should not expect doors to be thrown open for international games. And that's what did not happen; Apart from Faf du Plessis and Dewald Brevis, South Africa has included Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Marco Jansen and Lungi Ngidi in the squad. Proteas look like a solid team with Quinton de Kock as an opener, a trio of Aiden Markram, Rassie van der Dussen and David Miller in middle-order forming the backbone of the line-up. Anrich Nortje, if fit, along with Rabada pace attack combined with Keshav Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi's spin attack, will be a deadly bowling department to face. 

What to expect from the venue?

Owing to the sweltering heat of June afternoon, it will be a hot welcome for the team fielding first. Dew might have a say later after sunset. Teams prefer chasing at the venue. 

Stats to keep an eye on

•  India is currently tied with Afghanistan and Romania on a 12-match winning streak. It is their chance to go a step further and rewrite men's T20I history.
• Kagiso Rabada is one short of entering the 50 T20I wicket club.
• South Africa has played two T20I series in India and did not lose either. They swept the 2015 series 2-0 and drew the 2019 series 1-1.

India has won 12 T20Is at home consecutively in a row and would be looking forward to carrying forward the momentum against South Africa. But the presence of quality all-rounders in South Africa gives them a touch of match winners, and India will have to be on top under Rishabh Pant's captaincy to beat the strong side. Will it be a 13th win on the trot for India, or will South Africa draw first blood? It will be interesting to see.