Virat Kohli's need of a Plan B and other talking points as South Africa and India meet for T20I series decider

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  • Kohli will hope to have a Plan B in place for Saturday's decider.

    South Africa and India will be back at Newlands in Cape Town for the final T20I with the series finely poised at 1-1.

    The two sides return to the venue which kick-started India’s tour of South Africa with the first Test which went the way of the hosts.

    Ahead of the all-important clash on Saturday, we look at the key talking points.

    INDIA AIM TO FINISH ON HIGH

    Their tour started disastrously at the same venue but India have made it one to remember with a 5-1 thrashing of the hosts to capture their maiden ODI series on South African soil.

    While a lot of ‘what ifs’ sentiments still remain from the 2-1 defeats in Tests, the overall picture of the tour looks a lot more positive for India with their domination in the limited-overs clashes.

    Such has been their dominance that the defeat in the second T20I seems like an aberration in an otherwise unblemished performances in the limited-overs clashes. With a chance to return home with two trophies on the line on Saturday, expect Virat Kohli’s men to come out all guns blazing.

    A chance for the visitors to end with two trophies.

    A chance for the visitors to end with two trophies.

    CHAHAL, KULDEEP OR AXAR PATEL

    While India’s wrist-spinners were on fire in the ODI series where they picked up 33 wickets between themselves, it hasn’t been the same in the T20Is. It is Yuzvendra Chahal who has been preferred in a lone-spinner’s role in the series up to now but he has been way below par, picking up only the one wicket in two matches.

    He was taken for 64 runs in the previous clash, the worst figures for an Indian in the 20-over format and as such, could be dropped for either Kuldeep Yadav or Axar Patel. There also remains the possibility of India lining up with two spinners at Newlands but that will depend on the conditions on offer.

    Kuldeep could be thrown in for the decider.

    Kuldeep could be thrown in for the decider.

    WILL KOHLI GO FOR A PLAN B?

    While Chahal was being taken to the cleaners by Heinrich Klaasen at Centurion, Kohli could only look on haplessly. The Indian skipper had decided to go with a five-bowler attack for the match and with Chahal misfiring big time, he was left with no alternative who could bowl the remainder of the leg-spinner’s quota of overs.

    With the possibility of one of the five bowlers having an off-day, it is imperative that India have some back-up options in the bowling department. This could mean that Kohli will need to pick five specialist bowlers apart from all-rounder Hardik Pandya. Keeping this in mind, it won’t be a surprise if India indeed lines up with two spinners.

    SOUTH AFRICA’S CHANCE FOR REDEMPTION

    After being on a the receiving end of a 5-1 thrashing in the ODIs, South Africa looked down and out after losing their openers in the chase of 189 in the second T20I. It was only when Klaasen came into bat that the entire momentum of the game shifted in favour of the hosts.

    The limited-overs battles have been an eye-opener for the Proteas who have struggled in the absence of their established big names. The emergence of Klaasen and Junior Dala has been one of the very few positives for them. However, a win in the final T20I could ease the heartache of being outplayed in the ODIs.

    Having captured the Test series, another win in the T20Is makes the picture much better for the beleaguered hosts.

    A T20I series win could make it a happy end for the hosts.

    A T20I series win could make it a happy end for the hosts.

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