Why George Linde is Not Playing Today in IND vs SA T20 World Cup Match?

The 2024 T20 World Cup finalists are meeting once again in the Super 8 clash of the ongoing T20 World Cup. The high-voltage clash is being held at the biggest cricket stadiums in the world, Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. South Africa skipper Aiden Markram won the toss and opted to bat first. India are playing with an unchanged team while the Proteas have made four changes in their playing 11 with the surprising exclusion of George Linde.

Why George Linde is Not Playing Today against India?

South Africa made a crucial decision to bench their star all-rounder George Linde for the IND vs SA T20 World Cup Match. The team management decided to play with their usual playing 11, as Keshav Maharaj brought back as George Linde replacement.

Keshav is comparatively more experienced than Linde when it comes to playing on the international stage. It would be interesting to see if the Proteas will miss Linde's services or if it will come out as a masterstroke.

George Linde's performance in T20Is

George Linde may not be a regular member of the Proteas’ T20I squad, but he has good experience in the shortest format. The left-arm spinner has played 31 T20I matches and taken 33 wickets at an average of 22.15. With the bat, he has scored 303 runs at an average of 15.94, with a highest score of 48.

On the other hand, Keshav Maharaj has featured in 46 T20I matches and picked up 45 wickets at an average of 26.44. While the numbers may not fully reflect Maharaj’s ability, his experience and presence can make a big difference for the team. It will be interesting to see whether the break has affected his rhythm or if he continues to perform strongly with the ball.