The left-hander, who smashed 68 runs off just 32 deliveries, also said that Tuesday’s experience will help the visitors to prepare for the first Twenty20 against India to be held at Dharamsala on October 2.
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While India is considered the hub of T20 cricket courtesy the Indian Premier League, the national team has little to show in terms of matches – and results – in the shortest format over the previous year.
After India’s historic Test series victory in Sri Lanka under Virat Kohli, the T20Is against SA will see the return of MS Dhoni to the fold.
Against South Africa though, the battle could be between the batsmen on either side.
Rahane insisted that cricket is not an individual sport, but a team game and India have the capability to dominate the visiting South Africans.
South Africa has three different captains, who each play in all formats.
Du Plessis made a decision to retire and let Duminy take apart the bowling in the death overs as the Delhi Daredevils captain hit a few breathtaking half a dozen sixes, including one that soared over the ground and went into the main road of the Airforce Sports Complex ground at Palam. For one, India are playing at home, and India at their own den can be one of the toughest teams in the world to beat.
And there is also the bigger picture.
Phadke started his career as manager of the Indian team in 2006 with the U-19 team when Virat Kohli and Ishant Sharma were part of the squad.
It will not be a surprise if Dhoni promotes himself up the batting order in this series, considering that he has been looking to bat more freely in recent times.
The curator at the HPCA Stadium has promised a pitch with assistance for both batsmen and seam bowlers. So it will be fight between Ashwin and Harbhajan even as Dhoni has Amit Mishra and Axar Patel as worthy options. In the three Tests he has played till now, Harmer has bolstered his reputation, picking up seven wickets on his debut against West Indies in Cape Town and then doing reasonably well in Bangladesh.
I suspect India’s fate in at least two out of the three T20s will be in the hands of Aravind, Mohit and Binny.
Imran Tahir is, arguably, the best T20 bowler in the world and his ticket to the World T20 is all but booked. South Africa will nearly certainly pick Dale Steyn and Vernon Philander for next year’s tournament but a chance beckons for Kyle Abbott, Kagiso Rabada and Chris Morris.
The two leg-spinners Imran Tahir and Eddie Leie didn t find their length either and were repeatedly dispatched to the ropes. Albie Morkel is also in the side thanks David Weise’s injury. Both sides lag behind in the T20 rankings.
“I am excited for this tour because it is in India, where we are going to play the World T20″.
Duminy said his side is not thinking too far down the line in the series, but hoped that everything goes well.
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The South African T20 Captain, Faf du Plessis spoke about their practice session with wet balls.
