ICC World Twenty20: In-form India favourites against South Africa, reveal statistics
India have lost just one of four ICC World Twenty20 matches against South Africa. The two teams face off once again in the current edition for right to play in the final.
Team India has been in excellent form in the ICC World Twenty20. With four wins from four matches in the Super-10 stage, the Men in Blue have also toppled Sri Lanka to take the top-spot in the ICC T20I team rankings. The 2007 champions now face South Africa in the semis - to be played on Friday (April 4). Past statistics of matches between the two teams also put Mahendra Singh Dhoni's men as favourites to win the match. (Also read: Yuvraj misses practice session due to ankle injury)
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India have played seven T20I matches against the Proteas overall and have won five of them (winning percentage of 71.42). The record in WT20 events is even better with India emerging victors three out of the four times that the two teams have faced off (winning percentage of 75). And the team's current form indicates that there may not be much chance for South Africa to improve their record at Mirpur on Friday either.
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India have been the best side of the tournament so far - toppling giants Pakistan, West Indies and Australia, apart from hosts Bangladesh. The wins have been convincing by T20 standards which means the morale of the players would be high too. This may be further bolstered by a look at the past four WT20 encounters against South Africa.
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The two teams last met in WT20 in 2012 when India pipped the Proteas by a run in Colombo. The other two victories have been more dominant - win by 37 runs in 2007 and by 14 runs in 2010. Interestingly, only one of these matches - the most recent in Sri Lanka - was played in the sub-continent. And while conditions in T20 matches appear to not matter for India, playing on slow turners in Bangladesh will further improve the prospects of a win.
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South Africa though would be looking to do things differently this time around. On Wednesday, former Aussie spin legend Shane Warne was seen sharing tips with members of the side. (Read full report here). India on the other hand ditched playing football in the practice session after Yuvraj Singh hurt his ankle. Instead, several members of the team including Dhoni had a more conventional batting session in the nets. (Read)
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(Stats by Press Trust of India)