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After suffering back-to-back T20I defeats, the Indian cricket team will look to stay alive when they take on South Africa in the third T20I of the five-match series at the Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam on Tuesday, June 14.

Led by Temba Bavuma, South Africa continued their impressive form as they defeated India by four wickets at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack on Sunday to take a 2-0 lead in the five-match series. Earlier, the visitors secured a seven-wicket win in a high-scoring encounter in the first T20I at the Arun Jaitley Stadium in Delhi on Thursday.

Trailing 0-2 in the series, the Rishabh Pant-led India will look to bounce back in a must-win encounter in Visakhapatnam. India have a mixed record at this ground in the T20I format, winning against Sri Lanka in 2016 while the Men in Blue suffered a three-wicket defeat against Australia in 2019. One T20I against New Zealand was abandoned in 2012.

Here are some of the talking points ahead of the third T20I between India and South Africa:

Form of Ruturaj Gaikwad a concern

In the absence of India’s regular T20I opening batters Rohit Sharma and KL Rahul, Ruturaj Gaikwad has failed to grab his opportunities in the first two matches so far. The 25-year-old has scored just 24 runs in the two T20Is against South Africa so far. Gaikwad was dismissed for just one run off four balls in the second T20I at the Barabati Stadium in Cuttack on Sunday. The right-handed batter played an extremely loose drive off South Africa pacer Kagiso Rabada to give a simple catch to Keshav Maharaj at point. Gaikwad will look to play some decent knocks in the upcoming three matches if he has any chance to book a place in India’s squad for the T20 World Cup in Australia.

Indian spinners ineffective against Proteas batters

Indian spinners Yuzvendra Chahal and Axar Patel were extremely expensive in the second T20I in Cuttack. Defending a total of 149, leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal conceded 49 runs in his quota of four overs at Barabati Stadium. South Africa middle-order batter Heinrich Klaasen smashed 30 runs off just 13 balls against Chahal to turn the match in the visitors favour. Left-arm spinner Axar Patel also gave away 19 runs in the only over that he bowled in Cuttack. The Indian spin duo has been ineffective against the Proteas batters in the series so far, picking just two wickets. The Men in Blue will hope for an improved performance from their spinners in the must-win encounter in Visakhapatnam.

Umran or Arshdeep to debut in Vizag

Having suffered consecutive T20I defeats, India will be forced to make some changes in the playing XI against South Africa on Tuesday. The hosts could bring in Jammu and Kashmir fast bowler Umran Malik in place of a spinner. The 22-year-old speedster impressed everyone in the recently-concluded Indian Premier League, clocking over 150kph consistently. Playing for the Sunrisers Hyderabad in IPL 2022, Umran Malik picked 22 wickets in 14 matches at an average of 20.18. Considering the small ground in Vizag, India could also think of including left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh. Arshdeep has been a standout bowler for Punjab Kings in the last editions of IPL, claiming 28 wickets in 26 matches.

With India in a must-win situation, expect the Men in Blue to bring in their A-game against South Africa in Visakhapatnam on Tuesday.