Search for Perfect Climax: Pacers and middle-order make India favourites in series decider

In a space of eight days, this Indian team has played four games. It fielded an identical XI, which is in sync with Rahul Dravid's "school of continuity", seen the nadir in the first two games, only to break its own record of highest margin of victories over the Proteas -- by 47 runs in the third game and by 82 runs in the fourth. With Dinesh Karthik doing exactly what is expected of him and Harshal Patel and Avesh Khan also hitting the straps, the Indian fans would want to see Yuzvendra Chahal perform a trick or two at his IPL home ground in a match that matters the most. Therefore, when the teams step out on the M Chinnaswamy Stadium turf, the side that looked jaded and overcooked in the first two games will start as overwhelming favourites as the South Africans have already lost the plot.

Read AlsoIndia vs South Africa 4th T20I: There was pressure but credit to Rahul Dravid sir for giving chances to everybody, says Avesh Khan

After taking four for 12 to bundle out South Africa for 87 and shape India’s 82-run triumph at the SCA Stadium in Rajkot, pacer Avesh Khan dedicated his career-best T20I performance to his dad on the latter’s birthday. He credited India coach Rahul Dravid for sticking to the same outfit despite

If Temba Bavuma is unable to recover, they will miss a leader more than the batter. And suddenly in the last two games, the batting has looked iffy on tracks that have variable bounce, which has made this Indian attack look way more lethal. Call it strangely pleasant, but it remains a fact that in this series a lot of things haven't exactly gone as per plan but yet India have managed to level the series after being 0-2 down. A young captain who, perhaps, would have liked a few days in his hometown in