Team India are currently in South Africa for a four-match T20I series. Suryakumar Yadav’s men have won the first T20I but lost the second T20I. The series is tied at 1-1 with two matches still to play. Former South Africa batter, Herschelle Gibbs has predicted a 3-1 win for South Africa in the series. He feels that the series will be high scoring but India don’t have an experienced line-up to win the series in South Africa.
“Anything can happen. I think those sorts of wickets will suit the Indians more. Then come Johannesburg and the Wanderers at Super Sport Park, I’m expecting some high scoring games. Anything can happen in those games. After the first two games, the Proteas are with a full-strength team. India come with a team that’s not as experienced. I’m expecting at least a 3-1 series win with the Proteas,” Gibbs said to SportsBoom.
Herschelle Gibbs expects India to fight
Gibbs however said India still don’t have a lot of young talents and depth in T20 cricket who come out on top in pressure moments. He feels that there will be lot of intense contest in the final two games and expects India to fight till the end.
The second T20I match in the ongoing series between South Africa and India, which took place on November 10, 2024, was a thrilling contest at St George’s Park in Gqeberha. South Africa clinched a three-wicket victory over India, leveling the series at 1-1. This win ended India’s 11-match winning streak in T20Is, highlighting the competitiveness of the series.
India were batting first but had a rocky start with early dismissals including Sanju Samson, Abhishek Sharma, and captain Suryakumar Yadav. The innings was somewhat stabilized by Axar Patel’s quick 27, but it was Hardik Pandya’s gritty 39 off 45 balls that provided some momentum, helping India reach a total of 124/6. Despite a challenging start to their batting innings, South Africa faced pressure, particularly from Varun Chakravarthy who took a remarkable 5/17 in his spell, causing a collapse in the middle order.
However, Tristan Stubbs’ unbeaten 47 off 41 balls, along with a crucial 42-run partnership for the eighth wicket with Gerald Coetzee, who scored an unbeaten 19, guided South Africa to victory in the 19th over.
