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India Women will face South Africa Women in the highly anticipated 1st T20I of the series. The match is scheduled to be held at the MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chennai and will commence at 7:00 PM IST on July 5, 2024. With both teams eager to make a mark, this promises to be a thrilling contest.
Pitch Report: MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai
The pitch at the MA Chidambaram Stadium is known for being challenging for batters. Historically, the Chepauk wicket has provided significant assistance to spinners, making it difficult to score runs freely, especially after the powerplay. A par score on this surface is around 140 runs, which could be a tough target to chase under lights.
Team Previews
India Women
India Women are riding high after a dominant performance in the ODI series and the one-off Test against South Africa. The hosts, led by Harmanpreet Kaur, have showcased their prowess, winning one-sided encounters. They now shift their focus to the T20I series, where they aim to continue their winning streak. Despite their dominance, they must be cautious as South Africa Women are known to be more competitive in the shortest format.
Predicted Playing XI
- Smriti Mandhana
- Shafali Verma
- Dayalan Hemalatha
- Harmanpreet Kaur (c)
- Jemimah Rodrigues
- Richa Ghosh (wk)
- Deepti Sharma
- Pooja Vastrakar
- Radha Yadav
- Renuka Thakur
- Shreyanka Patil
South Africa Women
South Africa Women have struggled against India in the ODI series and the Test match, with senior players occasionally putting up a fight. To challenge India in the T20I series, contributions will be needed from the entire team, not just their star players.
Predicted Playing XI
- Laura Wolvaardt (c)
- Tazmin Brits
- Anneke Bosch
- Sune Luus
- Marizanne Kapp
- Nadine de Klerk
- Chloe Tyron
- Mieke de Ridder (wk)
- Nonkululeko Mlaba
- Ayabonga Khaka
- Tumi Sekhukhune
Match Prediction
India Women enter the T20I series as the favorites, having comprehensively beaten South Africa in the ODI and Test formats. The Indian team, with a blend of experienced and in-form players, looks formidable. South Africa, on the other hand, have relied heavily on a few key players like Laura Wolvaardt and Marizanne Kapp. For South Africa to challenge India, they will need a collective team effort.
With both teams boasting some of the best talent in women’s cricket, the 1st T20I is set to be an exciting clash. However, given their current form and depth, India Women are tipped to emerge victorious.
