India will enter the Super 8 stage of the T20 World Cup from the 22nd, with their first match against the South Africa national cricket team. Although team India remains unbeaten in the tournament so far, Abhishek Sharma’s poor form in batting has surfaced as a concern.
Playing three of the four matches, Abhishek Sharma failed to score a single run, creating an unwanted record. His recent illness has further raised questions about his availability for the Super 8 clash against South Africa.
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Abhishek’s illness raises selection concerns
Abhishek became ill after the match against the United States and was hospitalised due to stomach problems. As a result, he lost weight and had to undergo a complete change in diet. Despite not being fully fit, he featured against Pakistan and was also included in the match against the Netherlands.
This has led to speculation over whether fielding him without adequate rest after his illness affected his performance. In this context, there are discussions about replacing him in the playing XI.
Sanju Samson may take the place
Sanju Samson is being considered as an alternative in the top order. He played against Namibia and scored 22 runs. Although he is not in peak form, his current condition is considered better than Abhishek’s.
However, Sanju has also struggled to convert starts into big innings in recent matches. As a result, captain Suryakumar Yadav faces a selection dilemma ahead of the Super 8 stage.
Probable India XI against South Africa
While no official announcement has been made regarding the final XI for the South Africa match, Sanju Samson appears slightly ahead in the selection race based on form and fitness. Experts believe that giving Abhishek adequate time to regain full fitness and form could benefit India in the later stages, including a potential semi-final or final.
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India’s likely XI against South Africa - Ishan Kishan, Sanju Samson, Tilak Varma, Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Rinku Singh, Washington Sundar, Arshdeep Singh, Varun Chakravarthy, Jasprit Bumrah
India vs South Africa head-to-head record
India holds an advantage over South Africa in T20 cricket. Out of 35 matches, India have won 21, while South Africa have won 13.
In T20 World Cup history, India has won five matches against South Africa and lost two. The most notable encounter remains the 2024 T20 World Cup final, where India defeated South Africa by seven runs.
