India to play first T20 in Kingsmead after 2007 WC triumph

Despite multiple tours of the Indian Cricket Team to South Africa, a T20 clash between the two teams has not taken place in the Kingsmead stadium in Durban ever since the 2007 T20 World Cup. The two teams are set to clash on December 10th. 

In 2007 South Africa headed into the clash unbeaten whereas for India it was a must win in order to qualify for the semi final stage. Having lost 3 early wickets it was Rohit Sharma’s brave 40-ball 50 that got India to a formidable total of 153. R.P Singh ran through South Africa’s top order thereafter. South Africa needed 126 to ensure their qualification. Mark Boucher and Albie Morkel’s resilience seemed to give them hopes for that but they too fell in the final stages of the game. South Africa fell 10 runs short of the mark. This is one of the less remembered South African choke in World Cups. 

India had other great memories in this ground in the world cup such as the bowl-out win against Pakistan, Yuvraj’s six-sixes against Stuart Broad and the semi final triumph against Australia. 

South Africa does not have a great track record on this ground losing 6 of the 11 games they played. High scoring games favouring the chasing team might be expected going by the last 3 games. There is not much assistance for spin but the role of a spinner cannot be ruled out nevertheless. India has a loaded pace battery for the conditions and Captain Suryakumar Yadav coming off a 4-1 series victory against Australia.