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India
South Africa
The fourth T20I between India and South Africa will be played at the Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow. India will enter this match with a 2-1 lead in the series and look to seal the series with a win. Home conditions will play a key role, especially under lights at this venue.
South Africa will approach this contest knowing they have pushed India in every game so far. They will take belief from their comeback win that levelled the series earlier. Their batting depth and pace attack will aim to keep the pressure on India once again. The visitors will look to force a decider-style performance in this final outing.
In recent head-to-head meetings between these sides, India have won 4 of the last 5 matches, while South Africa have won one. That record will give India an edge, but the contest will remain competitive.
Abhishek Sharma is likely to bat aggressively and, with 298 runs at a strike rate of 169.31 in his last 10 T20Is and 35 off 18 in the previous match, he is well placed to cross this mark again.
The betting tip is...
Abhishek Sharma - Over 25.5 runs
61 %
39 %
India will head into this match with momentum after a strong 7-wicket win in the 3rd T20I. Their bowlers will look to repeat the same impact after restricting South Africa to 117, using the new ball effectively in the powerplay. Axar Patel will remain unavailable, and the final XI is likely to include Washington Sundar or Kuldeep Yadav to balance the attack.
Abhishek Sharma will again target early runs and will look to continue his pattern of scoring 30 to 40 at a strike rate above 200, after his 35 off 18 in the previous game. Shubman Gill and Suryakumar Yadav will aim to spend more time at the crease after a quiet run. Tilak Varma will be expected to control the middle overs.
Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube and Jitesh Sharma will provide finishing runs. Jasprit Bumrahβs return remains uncertain due to personal reasons.
Sharma, Pandya and Varma are the in-form batters.
Predicted Lineup: Abhishek Sharma, Shubman Gill, Suryakumar Yadav (c), Tilak Varma, Hardik Pandya, Shivam Dube, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Jasprit Bumrah/Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Varun Chakaravarthy
South Africa will look to bounce back after a below-par batting show in the third T20I. Aiden Markram will take confidence from his 61 off 46, which stood out in an otherwise difficult batting effort.
Quinton de Kock and Markram will aim to manage the powerplay better, balancing intent with control against early movement. Tristan Stubbs will be expected to anchor the middle overs and keep the innings stable.
Dewald Brevis, David Miller and Donovan Ferreira will provide depth and will look to add quick runs of 20 to 30 at strike rates above 140. The bowling attack will remain a key strength, with Anrich Nortje and Lungi Ngidi expected to attack early and at the death. Marco Jansen will continue to use bounce and pace effectively.
Markram, Brevis and De Kock are the key batters.
Predicted Lineup: Reeza Hendricks, Quinton de Kock (wk), Aiden Markram (c), Dewald Brevis, David Miller, Tristan Stubbs, Donovan Ferreira, Marco Jansen, Anrich Nortje, Lungi Ngidi, Ottneil Baartman
India will go into this final T20I with confidence after taking a 2-1 lead and showing clear control in the last match. Their batting depth will be the key difference again. Abhishek Sharma will look to attack from the first over and set the tempo, just as he has done consistently in recent games.
His recent returns show he scores quickly and makes an impact early, which will put pressure on South Africaβs bowlers.
Suryakumar Yadav will be due for a timely contribution, while Hardik Pandyaβs current form adds stability in the middle order. With home conditions also in their favour, Indiaβs batting unit should be strong enough to seal the series.
