India v South Africa First T20I: Betting Preview

India take on South Africa in the first of five today at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi. India hold a slight advantage over the Proteas in H2H matches, claiming nine wins to South Africa’s six. Despite that, Temba Bavuma’s side will fancy their chances as they have never lost a T20I series in India.

We preview this match and we also provide the best bets and more.

Recent Form

The hosts are in fantastic form when it comes to this format. They have won 13 T20Is on the trot and will be looking to extend their winning streak against a strong South African side.

It’s hard to tell how the Proteas are coming into this match form-wise as they have not played a T20I since last year’s world cup. They only played 5 matches in the UAE and won four of them which is a decent return.

Last five matches:

India: WWWWW
South Africa: WWWWL

Team News

India

With KL Rahul, the stand-in captain and first-choice opener, sidelined, India will be led by Rishabh Pant and, in all likelihood, have Ruturaj Gaikwad at the top of the order. They’ll also be without Kuldeep Yadav through injury. The hosts selected a relatively inexperienced squad for this match and series with Rohit Sharma, Virar Kolhi and Jasprit Brumah all rested for this series.

It is unlikely that we will see IPL sensations Umran Malik and Arshdeep Singh. Despite their breakthrough seasons at the T20 showpiece, India’s coach Rahul Dravid hinted they would have to bide their time for now, with Bhuveshwar Kumar, Avesh Khan, Harshal Patel and Hardik set to be selected.

South Africa

The Proteas are likely to retain the top four through most of the 2021 T20 World Cup, which means there could only be room for two out of van der Dussen, Miller, Heinrich Klaasen and Stubbs. Pretorius and Parnell will be competing for the all-rounder spot.

South Africa have another left-arm pace option in Jansen who finds himself battling for a spot with Anrich Nortje and Lungi Ngidi for the second and third seamer spot with KG Rabada leading the attack. There’s also a huge chance that two spinners will be selected in the spinner friendly conditions in India.

Key Stats

Four of India’s last five opening partnerships in home T20Is were worth ten or fewer runs.

India’s Bhuvneshwar Kumar has claimed a wicket in six of his last seven T20I matches.

South Africa have struck the most sixes in just two of their last seven T20Is.

Hardik Pandya has scored 25+ runs just twice from his eight T20I innings, remaining not out on both occasions (39* and 35*).

Yuzvendra Chahal has dismissed Quinton de Kock six times in all T20s at an average of just 7.33.

Lungi Ngidi has dismissed KL Rahul and Rishabh Pant twice each at averages of just 2.00 and 3.50 respectively.

India have won 12 consecutive T20Is, a joint-record with Afghanistan and Romania and have only lost one of the last 10 bilateral T20I series.

South Africa have 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.

Rabada needs one wicket to reach fifty in T20Is. He will be the fourth South African to reach the milestone after Imran Tahir, Dale Steyn and Shamsi.

Prediction & Best Bets

Although a full-strength South African side will pose a serious challenge to an inexperienced Indian team, we can’t discount the strength-in-depth within the Indian squad. The IPL has already shown the world that they are capable of performing at a high level and it would be no surprise if they were to show that in this match. On home territory and against a South African team that may start this series slowly as they adapt to conditions in the subcontinent, I’m backing India to win the first T20I.