NEW DELHI: Leading the side in place of the injured Hardik Pandya, captain Suryakumar Yadav on Saturday expressed his satisfaction with India's performance against Australia and urged his squad to play "fearless cricket" in the forthcoming three-match T20 series against the Proteas.
"The players put their hands up against Australia and came up with fearless cricket, and we need to play the same against South Africa. I just told them (players) to do exactly what they do in franchise cricket," Suryakumar said in Durban on the eve of the first T20 against South Africa.
Although the heartbreaking World Cup final loss is difficult to forget, Suryakumar described the team's recent victory against Australia in the T20 series as a major boost before the South Africa visit.
Before going to South Africa, India had won the five-match series 4-1 at home against Australia.
"The World Cup defeat was a disappointment, and it is tough to move on from it. But the series win against Australia was a big boost even though it came in a different format," he said.
1/8:India vs South Africa: Top run-scorers in T20Is
2/8:Rohit Sharma (420 runs)
<p>India skipper Rohit Sharma, who has not featured in T20Is since last year's T20 World Cup, sits atop the list of highest run-scorers in India vs South Africa T20Is. Rohit has scored 420 runs in 16 innings with one century and two fifties.<br /></p>
3/8:David Miller (379 runs)
<p>South African batter David Miller will have a chance to surpass Rohit in the upcoming three-match series starting December 10. Miller has so far made 379 runs in 15 innings including one hundred and two half-centuries. <br /></p>
4/8:Suresh Raina (339 runs)
<p>Suresh Raina, who became the first Indian batter to score a century in a T20 International in 2010, is third on the list with 339 runs under his belt from 11 innings. <br /></p>
5/8:Virat Kohli (318 runs)
<p>Having not been part of the T20I set up for more than a year, Virat Kohli made 318 runs in 12 innings against South Africa in T20Is. The former India skipper scored two half-centuries as well. <br /></p>
6/8:Quinton de Kock (312 runs)
<p>South African wicket-keeper batter Quinton de Kock features fifth on the list as he scored 312 runs in nine innings with four fifties. De Kock, who recently retired from ODI after the World Cup, will not be part of the series against India. <br /></p>
7/8:JP Duminy (295 runs)
<p>With 295 runs from 10 innings including three half-centuries, former South African batter JP Duminy secures the sixth spot. <br /></p>
8/8:Shikhar Dhawan (233 runs)
<p>Out-of-favour Indian opener Shikhar Dhawan has 233 runs to his name in seven innings, taking the seventh place in the list of highest run-getters. <br /></p>Suryakumar claimed that they had focused on it internally but did not reveal India's line-up for the first game of the tour.
"We have the combination in mind. We know who are going to open tomorrow, and perhaps, will take a final call after the practice session today. Yes, we have enough sixth bowler options in this side to bank upon," he said.
The 33-year-old said he enjoyed captaining the team.
"I am enjoying it. It is all about keeping the players together and this is a fine group of players."
1/9:India vs South Africa: Top wicket-takers in T20Is
Getty Images
2/9:Bhuvneshwar Kumar (14 wickets)
<p>Bhuvneshwar Kumar has been the most successful bowler in India-South Africa T20I contests with 14 wickets in 12 games. The 33-year-old has an economy of 6.69 with best figures of 5/24. <br /></p>Getty Images
3/9:Ravichandran Ashwin (11 wickets)
<p>R Ashwin sits at the second spot on the list of top wicket-takers in India-South Africa T20Is. Ashwin has 11 scalps to his name in 10 games. <br /></p>Getty Images
4/9:Lungi Ngidi (10 wickets)
<p>Pacer Lungi Ngidi has been the most successful bowler for South Africa against India in T20Is. The 27-year-old so far has taken 10 wickets in 5 matches against the Men in Blue. <br /></p>Getty Images
5/9:Wayne Parnell (9 wickets)
<p>Left-arm pacer Wayne Parnell has 9 Indian wickets to his name in the shortest format with best bowling figures of 3/15. <br /></p>Getty Images
6/9:Harshal Patel (9 wickets)
<p>Seamer Harshal Patel, who hasn't been picked for the upcoming South Africa tour has previously taken 9 wickets in 8 outings against the Proteas. <br /></p>Getty Images
7/9:Keshav Maharaj (8 wickets)
<p>Left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj is at the sixth spot on the list of top wicket-takers in India-South Africa T20Is. The experienced Proteas spinner has 8 wickets to his name against India. <br /></p>Getty Images
8/9:Pretorius, Rabada (8 wickets)
<p>Bowling all-rounder Dwaine Pretorius and pacer Kagiso Rabada also have 8 wickets each against India in the shortest format. <br /></p>Getty Images
9/9:Arshdeep Singh (7 wickets)
<p>Young left-arm pacer Arshdeep Singh has 7 wickets in three games against South Africa with best figures of 3/32 in T20Is. <br /></p>AP(With PTI inputs)
