SA vs IND 2024/25, SA vs IND 4th T20I Match Preview

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Big picture: The year India embraced T20

In a fickle, unpredictable format, India have had arguably the best year for a team, winning 23 of their 25 T20Is in 2024. It was also the year they really embraced the format, surrendering their security first with the bat to to play attacking modern T20 cricket.

The results could not have been better. They whitewashed Afghanistan and Bangladesh at home and did the same with Sri Lanka away. In between, their second tier won 4-1 in Zimbabwe. But all that pales in comparison to their unbeaten run to lift the T20 World Cup in June.

Friday’s T20I in Johannesburg will be their last outing in the format this year. Having taken an unassailable 2-1 lead in the four-match series, they will be keen to strike another positive note.

Until they faced India in the final in Barbados, South Africa were also unbeaten in the T20 World Cup. But on both sides of the tournament, their performances have been underwhelming. It could be argued that they were almost always missing one or more of their first-choice players, but the same could be said of their opponents.

Even if they win on Friday, South Africa’s winless streak in the bilateral T20I series will stand at eight. Still, 2-2 is much better than 3-1.

Form guide

South Africa LWLLW (Last Five T20Is, Latest First)

India WWWW

In the spotlight: Marco Jansen and Abhishek Sharma

Marco Jansen has made his comeback from a shoulder problem and has been South Africa’s player of the series. He may have picked up only three wickets, but his economy of 6.41 is the best of any bowler in the series. That India posted 200-plus totals twice in three matches makes Jansen’s achievement all the more impressive. He is also the leading run-getter for South Africa with 73 runs at a strike rate of 208.57. In Centurion, he completed an almost impossible chase with his 16-ball half-century, the second fastest for South Africa in the format.

Having failed to cross 20 in his last seven T20I innings, Abhishek Sharma was under pressure entering the third T20I. At times he had looked out of his depth, especially against the hard lengths, and it seemed he was only in one gear. But in Centurion, his shot selection was much better as he scored a 25-ball 50 to set the platform for a big total. With Yashasvi Jaiswal and Shubman Gill ahead of him in the pecking order, he will be aware that he cannot relax after just one good innings.

Team news: Peter coming back?

South Africa could consider bringing back local leg-spinner Nqabayomzi Peter for Gerald Coetzee.

South Africa (probable): 1 Ryan Rickelton, 2 Reeza Hendricks, 3 Aiden Markram (capt), 4 Tristan Stubbs, 5 Heinrich Klaasen (wk), 6 David Miller, 7 Marco Jansen, 8 Gerald Coetzee/Nqabayomzi Peter, 9 Andile Simelane, 10 Keshav Maharaj, 11 Lutho Sipamla

With Ramandeep Singh showing his worth with the bat in Centurion, India will be hesitant to make changes.

India (probable): 1 Sanju Samson (wk), 2 Abhishek Sharma, 3 Tilak Varma, 4 Suryakumar Yadav (capt), 5 Hardik Pandya, 6 Rinku Singh, 7 Ramandeep Singh, 8 Axar Patel, 9 Arshdeep Singh, 10 Ravi Bishnoi, 11 Varun Chakravarthy

Pitch and conditions: Rain can delay the start

Johannesburg is traditionally a high-scoring location. The last time it hosted a T20I, in December 2023, India rode on Suryakumar Yadav’s hundred to post 201 for 7. However, South Africa were bowled out for just 95 in reply, with Kuldeep Yadav taking five wickets. There is a forecast for showers around 16 local time, half an hour before kick-off. But it is expected to be short and we should get a full match.

Stats and Trivia: Arshdeep closes in for Chahal

  • By 2024, India has crossed the 200 mark eight times – the most of any team in a single year.
  • Arshdeep Singh needs five more wickets to overtake Yuzvendra Chahal as India’s highest wicket-taker in T20Is.
  • This year, Aiden Markram has 241 runs in 17 T20Is at an average of 16.06 and a strike rate of 120.50. The last time he scored a half-century in the format was 28 innings ago.
  • Tilak Varma’s 107 not out in Centurion was the 21st T20I hundred by an Indian batsman. New Zealand (12) and Australia (11) are the only other teams to have ten or more T20I tons.

Hemant Brar is a sub-editor at ESPNcricinfo