World T20 team watch: India and South Africa

Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s T20 team is on a roll in 2016. After beating Australia in Australia in a three-match series, the Men in Blue won the Asia Cup in Bangladesh, beating all the opponents comfortably. 

In fact, Dhoni has a problem of plenty now as all the newcomers have fired in the matches they were fielded, including spinner Pawan Negi, who got just one match in the Asia Cup. Shikhar Dhawan and Rohit Sharma at the top, followed by Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Hardik Pandya, MS Dhoni and Ravindra Jadeja is by far the strongest batting line-up in the world. 

Jasprit Bumrah, Ashish Nehra and R Ashwin complete the first eleven but when you consider that Ajinkya Rahane and Negi are there to back up, India has a formidable side. Australia and New Zealand are India’s main opposition in the group but Pakistan could always be dangerous customers and the venue, Dharamsala, adds to the hype of the match, which is already going through a period of uncertainty. On current form, India should move into the semi-finals but T20 is a zone of uncertainty.

Though ranked second in the T20 ranking, a major ICC trophy eludes South Africa’s trophy cabinet.

While the tag of chokers, seems to have diminished a bit after their semi-final appearance in the last year’s 50-over World Cup, the T20 edition in the sub-continent can be labelled as South Africa’s best chance to lay their hands on the elusive trophy. 

The Proteas emerged triumphant in the recent series against India winning the T20s and the ODIs and that win should be a confidence booster ahead of a gruelling tournament in familiar conditions. 

With an experienced hand in Faf du Plessis leading the side and with the murderous form of Quinton de Kock and David Miller, a game changer and match winner in AB de Villiers, the Proteas have ticked all the boxes in the batting department. 

The return of Dale Steyn adds fire power to their bowling alongside Kagiso Rabada, Kyle Abbott and Chris Morris, the latter being a regular in the Indian Premier League. 

Imran Tahir would hold the key in spin-friendly wickets and their bowling department, too, looks a good one.