In addition to grappling with the unfamiliar conditions, India must contend with the inconsistent form of their batters, especially given that the pitch here is expected to mirror the pace and bounce of the one in Gqeberha.
The Indian batsmen faced significant challenges against South African pace bowlers in the second T20I, managing only 124 runs for six wickets, and Centurion possesses similar playing conditions.
The issues begin at the top of the order, particularly with Abhishek Sharma, whose prolonged slump with the bat has become a major concern. He urgently needs a strong performance here to avoid any potential reshuffling of the lineup.
There’s also the option of having Tilak Varma open alongside Sanju Samson, while Ramandeep Singh could be brought in to bolster the middle order.
However, the senior players, including captain Suryakumar Yadav, Pandya, and Rinku Singh, cannot completely escape accountability for India’s struggles either.
Both Suryakumar and Rinku have only shown glimpses of their abilities, while Pandya’s contribution of 39 runs in the second match came off 45 balls. Notably, he took 28 balls to hit his first boundary and failed to score between the 39th and 45th balls.
These three batsmen need to step up to support the in-form Samson or ensure India sets a strong target, even on a day when he may not perform at his best.
