The first of three T20 internationals between India and South Africa takes place in Thiruvananthapuram on Wednesday and we take a look at the squads, recent form and the all important betting.
This is a 3 match series (to be followed by 3 x ODI's) and we start with the squads.
India: Rohit Sharma (Captain), KL Rahul (vice-captain), Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), Dinesh Karthik (wicket-keeper), R. Ashwin, Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Harshal Patel, Deepak Chahar, Jasprit Bumrah, Umesh Yadav (Shreyas Iyer, possible)
South Africa : Temba Bavuma (c), Quinton de Kock, Reeza Hendricks, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Wayne Parnell, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Rilee Rossouw, Tabraiz Shamsi, Tristan Stubbs, Bjorn Fortuin, Marco Jansen and Andile Phehlukwayo
Recent Form
Last week India came from behind to beat Australia 2-1 in a home series. They lost the first match by 4 wickets but won the next two by 6 wicket margins. They won 3 and lost 2 of their Asia Cup matches in Dubai and they were 4-1 winners away to West Indies.
The Proteas beat Ireland twice in Bristol in early August (21 runs and 44 runs). Prior to that they came from behind to win a 3 match series away to England 2-1, losing the first match by 41 runs before hitting back to take the second contest by 58 runs and the decider by 90 runs.
Head to Head
Overall the teams have met 20 times with India winning 11 to South Africa's 8 with 1 no result
The most recent series came in India as recently as June this year. The Proteas won the first 2 matches, India hit back to square the series and unfortunately the decider was washed out.
The Betting - 1st T20
At the time of writing India are 4/9 to win the match and South Africa are 7/4
Kohli, Rahul and Rohit Sharma are all 11/4 to top score for India and de Kock is 5/2 to do likewise for South Africa
India are 7/10 to hit the most 6's with South Africa 6/4 and the tie is 15/2
Note all prices are correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
The Verdict
There are some big guns in the Indian top order vying for favouritism to top score for the hosts but at the prices I'll chance Suryakumar Yadav who was in form against Australia last time out.
In the top SA bowler market Tabraiz Shamsi is my go to man.
India are focusing on improving their bowling. With Bumrah joined by some very useful spinners a chance is taken that no SA batsmen will score 50.
Bets: Top India Run Scorer Suryakumar Yadav at 9/2
Top SA Wicket Taker Tabraiz Shamsi at 5/2
Half-Century Scored - South Africa? No at 5/2
Sunbet, Claim your 1st deposit bonus of up to R1,000 here
Note all prices are correct at the time of writing but are subject to change
Subscribe to our free weekly betting mailer which will include our best and value bets below.
