In the latest advertisement, while the Indian fans are shown talking about their love for former coach Gary Kirsten -- under whom India won the World Cup in 2011 -- they can also be seen warning him and the Proteas against any favour from Virat Kohli and the boys.
India had defeated Sri Lanka in the finals of the 2011 World Cup at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai on April 2. Chasing 275, then skipper M. Dhoni (91) and Gautam Gambhir (97) had played brilliant knocks to win the coveted trophy for the Men in Blue.
Yuvraj Singh, who was integral to India's successful campaign in 2011 edition of the World Cup, also shared the 45-second video on Twitter and wrote that Kirsten played a key part in making April 2nd night a memorable one for every Indian.
"April 2, 2011 - a night I can never forget, and a night that one South African played a key part in making it possible," said Yuvraj while backing Kohli's men to lift the coveted trophy on July 14 at the iconic Lords in England.
In the 2015 edition of the World Cup, India had defeated South Africa in the group stage. After setting up a target of 308, the Men in Blue bundled out the Proteas for 177, thus registering their first win over South Africa in all editions of the World Cup.
But Yuvraj ended the tweet saying that while he has all the respect for Guru Gary - as Kirsten was fondly called - this game on June 5 will be won by India.
"The all-India senior selection committee has decided to add Shikhar Dhawan to the India A squad for the fourth and fifth one-dayers against South Africa A," a statement from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) said.
India A are currently leading the five-match series 1-0 following their 69-run victory in the first match played in Thiruvananthapuram on Thursday.
Shankar suffered an injury to his right thumb, the statement added.
The Men in Blue would be brimming with confidence following their emphatic performance in their last tour to the Caribbean Islands. India were absolutely ruthless against the West Indies, with only rain denying them a clean sweep of the Test, ODI and T20 series contested between the two nations.
Even though a number of leading figures were rested, India cruised to a 3-0 series win in the T20Is and left behind the disappointment of the World Cup where they had to face a heart-wrenching defeat to New Zealand in the semi-finals. While Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli were in among the runs against the Carlos Brathwaite-led side, debutant Navdeep Saini had starred with the ball alongside experienced Bhuvneshwar Kumar.
Star all-rounder Hardik Pandya is back in the squad after he was rested for the complete Windies tour and is a certainty to feature in the playing XI against the South Africans.
On the other hand, a young Proteas side led by Quinton de Kock, will look to leave behind their dismal performance in England in the World Cup and will look to come up with a new hope.
There are three new faces in the form of Temba Bavuma, Bjorn Fortuin and Anrich Nortje in the South Africa squad who would be eager to perform at the big stage.
Veteran all-rounder Chris Morris was not considered for selection, while the trio Aiden Markram, Theunis de Bruyn and Lungi Ngidi was also overlooked. In Kagiso Rabada, they have a bowler who can wreck havoc to any batting unit and turn the game on its head.
However, despite the lack of experience, they are expected to pose a greater challenge to India than the West Indies did last month.
The last time these two teams faced each other in the shortest format of the game was in 2018 when India had beaten the Proteas 2-1 in the three-match series played in South Africa.
One of the things that might play a spoilsport on Sunday is the weather as rains and thunderstorms are predicted on the match-day.
Squads:
India: Virat Kohli (Captain), Rohit Sharma (vice-captain), Shikhar Dhawan, K.L. Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Manish Pandey, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Krunal Pandya, Washington Sundar, Rahul Chahar, Khaleel Ahmed, Deepak Chahar and Navdeep Saini.
South Africa: Quinton de Kock (c), Rassie van der Dussen (vc), Temba Bavuma, Junior Dala, Bjorn Fortuin, Beuran Hendricks, Reeza Hendricks, David Miller, Anrich Nortje, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, George Linde.
The T20 World Cup is more than 12 months away but India captain Virat Kohli has already detailed his plans and expectations from the youngsters in the side.
The skipper did not expect to get a bagful of opportunities when he arrived on the international scene and believes the current crop of youngsters also need to make it count in the limited time they are going to get.
One of them is 21-year-old Rishabh Pant, who can't be bracketed as a "youngster" anymore having made his debut back in February 2017.
Not a single ball was bowled in the series-opener but there was enough happening on the sidelines and most of it was focussed on Pant.
In a chat with the host broadcaster, the message for Pant from the team management was loud and clear: he can't repeatedly throw his wicket away and if he does "there will be a rap on the knuckles".
"We'll let him be but at times when you see a shot, like the first ball dismissal in Trinidad (during the tour of West Indies), if he repeats that, then he will be told. There will be a rap on the knuckles, talent or no talent," said head coach Ravi Shastri ahead of the series-opener.
With Kohli still very much open to having Mahendra Singh Dhoni back on board, pressure is mounting on Pant to do justice to his rich talent.
Considering the circumstances, it was not a surprise that Pant had a hit in the nets right after the team flew here from Dharamsala on Monday.
Pressure will also be on leg-spinners Rahul Chahar and Washington Sundar, both of whom have been picked ahead of Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal for the second straight series.
With 20-odd games to go before the World Cup, the Indian team wants to boost its batting which will require number 8, 9 and 10 to score runs on a regular basis, something which has never been India's strength.
Will a deep batting line-up compromise India's ability to wake wickets in the middle overs? Only time will tell.
It is also an important series for Shreyas Iyer and Manish Pandey, who have been brought back into the side to solidify the middle order.
The game will also be an opportunity for Shikhar Dhawan to play a substantial knock, having endured a lean tour of the West Indies by his standards.
It a ground he is fond of, having scored a memorable 187 on his Test debut and more recently a 143 in the ODI against Australia in March this year, albeit in a losing cause.
On the other hand, it will be an uphill task for South Africa to beat this Indian side, which has been on a roll for most part.
Time in the middle for a team in transition would have been valuable but rain robbed the Proteas of that opportunity in Dharamsala.
The Kagiso Rabada-led attack would have to bowl really well to contain the Indian batsmen especially skipper Kohli, who played one of his best knocks against Australia in March 2016, the last T20 played here, to take India to the World T20 semifinals.
Kohli, in a recent tweet, summed up what that knock of 82 off 51 balls meant to him as he struck the winning runs with Dhoni at the other end.
Though his followers failed to read his words, Kohli will be aiming for an encore on Wednesday.
Squads:
India: Virat Kohli (captain), Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Manish Pandey, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Krunal Pandya, Washington Sundar, Rahul Chahar, Khaleel Ahmed, Deepak Chahar, Navdeep Saini.
South Africa: Quinton de Kock (c), Rassie van der Dussen (vc), Temba Bauvma, Junior Dala, Bjorn Fortuin, Beuran Hendricks, Reeza Hendricks, David Miller, Anrich Nortje, Andile Phehlukyao, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, George Linde.
Match Starts 7 pm.
By Bharat Sharma
Speaking at the toss, Kohli said: "We are gonna bowl first. It's very difficult to defend and it's a great chasing ground. It's a typical Mohali wicket. The pitch is gonna play well too. (On his knock against Australia in the T20 World Cup 2016) Yes I remember it fondly. That is one of the best matches I have been part of. This ground has given me and the team great memories. We have been trying out youngsters. KL Rahul, Manish Pandey, Rahul Chahar and Khaleel Ahmed miss out."
South Africa skipper Quinton de Kock said: "Everything's new for me. It's a new experience and I'm enjoying it. Me, KG, Miller -- we've played a lot here. We had a long camp before the series. The boys are hungry to play. We have three debutants. Anrich Nortje, Bjorn Fortuin and Temba Bavuma comes in at No. 3."
Playing XI: India: Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli(c), Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant(w), Hardik Pandya, Krunal Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Washington Sundar, Deepak Chahar, Navdeep Saini
South Africa: Quinton de Kock(w/c), Reeza Hendricks, Temba Bavuma, Rassie van der Dussen, David Miller, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dwaine Pretorius, Bjorn Fortuin, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Tabraiz Shamsi
The South Africans are still trailing India by 252 runs at lunch after starting the second innings 326 runs in arrears.
The stodgy Dean Elgar (48 off 72 balls) put up some stiff resistance before Ravichandran Ashwin (2/8 in 8 overs) snuffed him out, in what was a decisive blow for the Proteas just before lunch.
After going wicketless in the first innings, Ishant Sharma (1/17 off 5 overs) struck with the very second delivery of the morning, a full-length in-dipper that struck Aiden Markram's pads (0) and umpire Nigel Llong raised his finger.
After a long discussion with non-striker Elgar, Markram didn't opt for the review but TV replays clearly showed the ball was missing the leg-stump. The opener thus had the ignominy of bagging a 'pair' in this Test.
However it was Wriddhiman Saha's superb keeping skills that had all those present on the edge of their seats, as he showed why he is so highly rated for his glovework.
On the third morning during South African first innings, poor Theunis de Bruyn (8) had suffered trying to play an expansive cover drive off Umesh Yadav (1/14 off 5 overs) that Saha had plucked from thin air in-front of the first slip.
On the fourth morning, De Bruyn tried playing a delicate glance after Umesh had drifted on the pads. To his horror, he saw an airborne Saha pull off an acrobatic stunner that left everyone on the edge of their seats.
Elgar and skipper Faf du Plessis (5 off 54 balls) added 49 runs and were ready to show patience, especially the skipper, who was presenting dead bat.
However, the ultra defensive tactic didn't work for a lengthy period as Du Plessis got out trying to drive an Ashwin off-break. The bat-pad inside edge kept low but Saha's sharp reflexes meant that he pouched it on the fourth attempt.
Elgar, who lost a bit of concentration, tried to play a lofted shot but didn't get his timing right as Umesh ran back from his mid-off position to take a fine running catch.
Rohit finally departed for 212 from 255 balls with the help of 28 fours and six sixes. He was caught at the fine leg boundary by Lungi Ngidi off Kagiso Rabada.
Rohit always looked good for a 'big daddy' hundred when he came out to bat with an overnight score of 117 on the second day, milking the Proteas bowlers around with relative nonchalance.
The 32-year old, who has three double hundreds in white-ball cricket with a career-best score of 264, got to 150 in 199 balls and raced to the 190s from there in quick time.
Rohit hit Andrich Nortje for back-to-back boundaries in the 84th over, the penultimate before lunch, to race to 196 and in the last over before the break survived few edges off Kagiso Rabada to move to 199 from 242 balls, his innings of six and half hours laced with 28 fours and four sixes.
Just after the break, India's limited-overs vice-captain tonked Lungi Ngidi for a six to get to his milestone in style, and got to his hundred in this innings.
The shot was a full-blooded pull in front of the square as the ball sailed into the stands and the dressing room rose together to applaud the effort. Rohit, often compared to Virender Sehwag for his dashing style as a Test opener, paid a fitting tribute to the former India batsman on his 41st birthday.
Batting as an opener for the first time in this series, Rohit, on the first day, added yet another feather to his cap by becoming the batsman to hit the most number of sixes in a Test series.
During the ongoing three-Test series against South Africa, Rohit has so far hit 17 sixes and has surpassed Shimron Hetmyer's tally of 15 which came during the two-match series between West Indies and Bangladesh in 2018/19.
Rohit already holds the record for hitting the maximum number of sixes in a Test match. During the first Test in Visakhapatnam, the stylish batsman hit 13 sixes and went past Wasim Akram's tally of 12 maximums which the Pakistan pacer had hit during his 257-run knock against Zimbabwe in 1996.
Besides Rohit, Test vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane also scored his 11th Test ton to break his long stretch of poor form. He and Rohit shared a marathon 267-run partnership for the fourth wicket before Rahane (115 off 192 balls; 17x4; 1x6) was caught behind by debutant wicketkeeper Heinrich Klaasen off fellow first-timer George Linde who scalped his first Test wicket.