T20 WC finalists India, SA meet again

Several changes on both sides for four-match series

DURBAN:

South Africa start a four-match Twenty20 international series against India at Kingsmead on Friday, just over four months after the visitors beat them in the T20 World Cup final.

Both squads show significant changes from the sides that played in Barbados, where India lifted the trophy with a seven-run win.

South Africa will be missing their three most successful bowlers from the World Cup campaign - fast bowlers Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje and left-arm spinner Tabraiz Shamsi, as well as batsman-wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock.

With most of India's leading players preparing for a Test series in Australia, there are only four survivors from the World Cup-winning team -- captain Suryakumar Yadav, Hardik Panday, Axar Patel and Arshdeep Singh.

South African coach Rob Walter acknowledged the reality of having to prepare a team at a time of congested and often conflicting schedules.

"The worlds of short-form cricket, leagues and Test matches are starting to encroach on each other. We're seeing that with other sides around the world having to field two different squads.

"We want to be in the same position and know that we're strong enough to win on both fronts.

Walter is at least able to call on in-demand franchise stars such as David Miller, Heinrich Klaasen, Marco Jansen and Keshav Maharaj, which was not the case when South Africa were beaten in their most recent T20 international against Ireland in Abu Dhabi in September. It will also provide fringe players in the Indian squad, such as uncapped Ramandeep Singh, Vijaykumar Vyshak and Yash Dayal, a chance to make an impact ahead of the scheduled Indian Premier League player auction in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on November 24-25.