India vs South Africa 4th T20 Highlights: Dinesh Karthik, Avesh Khan help IND clinch series-levelling win in Rajkot

There was certainly a noise! Ishan tried to cut Jansen and the noise could have been off the handle. Eight off the first over.

IND 8/0

What a shot! Jansen bowls a fullish delivery to Ishan, who flicks it through mid-wicket. Easy pickings for someone who is in stellar form.

Jansen starts off with a wide but Ruturaj tucks it down to mid-wicket for a single. First runs on the board!!!

IND 2/0

Ruturaj, Ishan open for India. Jansen starts off proceedings with the ball. Let's begin!

Marco Jansen-Lungi Ngidi-Anrich Nortje will be a treat to watch! For India, the onus is on Ruturaj-Ishan to help the team get off to a steady start! India going in with an unchanged team once again. We are moments away from live action... stay tuned for live updates!

Deep Dasgupta says it's is a biggish ground. The stadium is close to the highway and at times we get the feeling that the people who constructed the highway also constructed this pitch because it has traditionally been a high scoring venue. Tonight when you look at the pitch there is a lot of grass and this grass has a thick root structure which indicates there might be spongy bounce tonight.

"We have couple of forced changes; Rabada and Parnell miss out due to injuries, Reeza Hendricks also misses out, Quinton de Kock has recovered and is back, Marco Jansen and Ngidi coming in. Hopefully we have lot more (runs) coming from the top and the guys keep going in the middle," says Temba Bavuma.

"We were looking to bowl first. The only thing we are focusing on is our process and are not thinking this is a must-win game. We are trying to increase our run rate in the middle overs," says Rishabh Pant.

SA Playing XI: Temba Bavuma(c), Quinton de Kock(w), Rassie van der Dussen, David Miller, Heinrich Klaasen, Dwaine Pretorius, Keshav Maharaj, Marco Jansen, Lungi Ngidi, Tabraiz Shamsi, Anrich Nortje

IND Playing XI: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ishan Kishan, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant(w/c), Hardik Pandya, Dinesh Karthik, Axar Patel, Harshal Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Avesh Khan

Temba Bavuma wins toss, opts to bowl first at Rajkot

"We are going to have a bowl. To be honest we are not sure how the wicket is going to play, not much stats behind it. But we are chasing well and backing our strength," says Bavuma.

Rishabh Pant has been quiet with the bat, struggling to replicate his Tests' success in the shortest format of the game. Former India opener Wasim Jaffer believes the stumper isn't a certainty in Indian T20 side, especially with Rahul and Karthik in the ranks. The stage is set for Pant to prove a point! He's lost three tosses as well. 

"You've got KL Rahul. Once he comes back, he walks into the side. He's a wicketkeeper as well. If Dinesh Karthik is certain to play, then again, he is also a wicketkeeper. So, I am not too sure. The way Rishabh Pant has played recently, I won't call him a certainty," Jaffer told ESPNcricinfo.

"It's a good thing to be confronted with a world-class opposition like South Africa. It's only a learning curve for Rishabh, who is just 24," Gavaskar tells Star Sports about India's bumpy ride so far in the series. Toss is just moments away! Stay tuned for live updates!

While the spotlight remains on Indian openers when it comes to providing a steady start, Dinesh Karthik will look to produce some hits in the final overs. He hit a blistering 30* off 21 balls at Cuttack. Karthik is among the players who have made a strong case for this year's T20 World Cup in Australia.

With Quinton de Kock still recuperating from a wrist injury, the Proteas may stick to Bavuma and his replacement Reeza Hendricks at the top. It remains to be seen whether Rahul Dravid makes any changes to the Indian bowling mix!

Harshal Patel may not win the speed gun battle versus Umran Malik but he has his variations and cutters under crunch situations.

"I can't worry about pace because I can't bowl fast as Umran Malik. I have to develop skills to render myself effective at the international level. I have never been an express fast bowler though on a good day I can go near 140 kmph," said Harshal in the pre-match presser.

Avesh Khan has had a stellar IPL season with Lucknow Super Giants but the Indian hasn't delivered the expected performances in India colours so far. In five home T20 games with India, he has picked up just two wickets. He is yet to pluck a wicket in the ongoing series. 

Avesh took six wickets at the death in IPL 2022. But he hasn't been able to inflict damage in this phase of the game in T20 Internationals. Will be interesting to see how India line up for this do-or-die game… stay tuned for live updates!

With a 48-run victory in the previous game, India have a 10-8 lead over the Proteas in H2H record. Also, Temba Bavuma will be playing his 100th T20 game if he takes the field.

Quinton de Kock as he sustained a wrist injury during the first T20I match on June 9 and was forced to miss the second and the third clash. But the South African has resumed training in the nets. Reeza Hendricks could make way for de Kock if he returns to the eleven tonight.

Fresh from a highly successful spell with Rajasthan Royals, Chahal was questioned for his bowling tactics in the first two games. He roared back to form with 3/20 in the third T20 at Vizag.

"When you get middle-order batsmen out in the middle overs, the pressure is on them," said man of the match Chahal after the game.

"Batsmen try a lot of sweeps and reverse sweeps these days so we have to be prepared for that too, as bowlers."

It's another must-win situation for India to square the series with South Africa and take the series to a decider in Bengaluru on Sunday.

While India need a crucial win to stay alive in the five-game series, South Africa look to return to winning ways and seal the series. They currently lead 2-1.

Avesh Khan has not gone for a lot of runs but is yet to take a wicket in the series while Harshal Patel, who is known for his cutters and variation in pace, snared four wickets in the previous game. 

Bhuvneshwar has also been consistent with the ball. The seasoned pacer scythed through the SA top-order to pick a fourfer in the second T20. His 4/13 were the best bowling figures in losing cause in a T20 International.

Avesh was on the expensive side. But does that mean Umran and Arshdeep walk into the playing XI? I feel both players can replace Avesh. Left-arm pacer Arshdeep can leave his mark but I will go with Umran," former Pakistan tweaker Danish Kaneria said on his YouTube channel.

"Avesh can be rested and Umran can be tried out for a change. Because India have another must-win game here. If they stick with the same bowling line-up, the opposition becomes familiar with the attack."

India stuck to same eleven in the first three games. It remains to be seen whether Umran or Arshdeep replace Avesh in the bowling mix. A debut on the cards?

As per the weather forecast available on weather.com, the conditions in Rajkot is expected to be cloudy on Friday, with chances of scattered thunderstorms towards the evening. 

The humidity is expected to remain at 77 percent and wind speed ranging between 15 to 25 km/h.