3 reasons why India must play Yash Dayal in 3rd SA vs IND T20I 2024
Team India are set to face South Africa in the third T20I of the four-match series at SuperSport Park in Centurion on Wednesday, November 13. The series is currently leveled 1-1, with India having won the opening match and the hosts clinching the recently concluded second game.
After a dominant win in the first T20I, India lost the second match even after having control over the game for a major part. The Men in Blue couldn’t score much with the bat and posted 124 runs on board at the end of 20 overs.
The hosts too faced difficulty scoring and were reduced to 66/6 at a point, but Tristan Stubbs and Gerald Coetzee’s unbeaten knocks helped the Proteas chase down the total in the penultimate over.
The Indian bowlers were tested the most in the death overs and couldn’t handle the pressure as South Africa clinched a win from the jaws of defeat. With just two games remaining in the series, both teams will look to win them to clinch the series.
After a disappointing loss in the previous game, Team India might make a few changes in their playing XI to tackle the Proteas. One such player who might make it to the XI and sequentially earn his debut is Yash Dayal.
On that note, let’s look at three reasons why India must play Dayal in the forthcoming third T20I:
#1 Can swing the ball in both directions and has been impressive in death overs recently
After being hit for five consecutive sixes in the final over by Rinku Singh during an IPL match between Gujarat Titans and Kolkata Knight Riders, Yash Dayal’s confidence seemed to have shattered.
But the seamer soon made a comeback in the league, joining the Royal Challengers Bengaluru. He was a crucial cog in the team during the 2024 season and helped RCB grab a win against five-time champions Chennai Super Kings in the last league-stage game to make it to the playoffs.
Dayal is one of the few bowlers who can swing the ball in both directions, a quality that may come in handy for the Indian side at Centurion, where the pitches are expected to be faster. Additionally, Dayal’s death over prowess will prove beneficial for India if they are defending.
2. Surprise element against South Africa
With only the Indian side familiar with Dayal’s abilities and knowing what he can bring to the table, he can be a surprise element in the game. If he starts well, South African batters might as well need to devise plans to tackle the Indian seamer.
Dayal has a good amount of experience playing in the IPL and can cope with pressure well, especially since his outing for GT against KKR.
After witnessing South African batters turn the tables in the previous game, India will benefit from having Dayal as they look to bounce back.
3. India need to test their bench strength with new faces emerging in the T20 circuit
With Arshdeep Singh becoming a regular in the 20-over setup and Avesh Khan failing to put up noteworthy performances of late, India need more players to turn up and take charge and Yash Dayal might do just that.
Both the spinners on the side - Varun Chakravarthy and Ravi Bishnoi - are doing well, with the former putting up game-changing performances. But as for the pacers, Team India can not rely on a fixed bunch, which usually includes Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj and Arshdeep.
They need to test their bench strength and hence need to give players like Yash Dayal to prove their worth. A good performance will only boost their morale, and a poor outing will help the player determine their flaws and work on them. It will also provide clarity to the Indian think tank.