Editor’s Pick (ODI): India - South Africa

I think I have said enough and more about our absolutely fantastic performance in the tournament so far. Do look it up here if you have missed it. Now moving on the fourth ODI match of the tournament. India is looking fabulous. We have to make sure that it does not go to our heads. If things click, we win our first series in South Africa. With Virat Kohli being called Superman and all by Legendary Amarnath, we do have a lot of hopes pinned on this team. Former India captain Sourav Ganguly believes that Virat Kohli can be clubbed in the same pedigree as the famed batting quarter of Sachin Tendulkar, Rahul Dravid, VVS Laxman and Virender Sehwag. I have always seen a lot of Ganguly in Kohli. It is not just his amazing control and his ability to adjust but also the energy and intensity he brings to his batting in each and every innings."

On the team news, Ab de Villiers is back. The South African team will be slightly relieved at having one of the injured players back. It has been a nightmare for them with players dropping like flies.  It is good to have one of them back in the squad, especially since the morale of the boys is down having lost the first three ODI matches.

The wrist-spinning pair of Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav, who like Kohli have had a profound impact on India. To get 21 of the 30 wickets is more than just about physical data. The emotional and psychological impact on the batsmen when these bowlers take over is the ultimate effect. The pace is not doing too bad either. This combination of spin and pace is adding a lot of pressure to the South Africans. They did lose all 60 wickets in their three test matches. They can’t forget that in a hurry.

The Proteas need to keep an eye on the revolution of the ball. The mental battle between the Indian Spinners and the South African batsmen will be quite entertaining, I tell you. De Villiers and Kohli are on the same team at IPL. He will have an idea as to how the Indian Captain works. That should work to his advantage. If he makes use of it.

Morne Morkel was benched in the third ODI. That was a surprise. Along with Farhaan Behardien and Shamsi. The captain might consider bringing these three players back in the squad to give the SA team a chance. It is not an easy call because that would mean bringing other players to the bench. But seeing as the current team has not been cutting it, tough calls are what is needed.

Team India sees no change, obviously. Why rock that boat, eh?

South Africa squad for last three ODIs: Aiden Markram (c), Hashim Amla, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Imran Tahir, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Morne Morkel, Chris Morris, Lungisani Ngidi, Andile Phehlukwayo, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Khayelihle Zondo, Farhaan Behardien.

Key Players

Virat Kohli

MS Dhoni

Shikhar Dhawan

A Rahane

Aiden Markram

JP Duminy

Chris Morris

Bowlers

Y Chahal

J Bumrah

Lung Ngidi

B Kumar

South Africa [SA] Probable Playing 11 :

Hashim Amla, Heinrich Klaasen (wk), Jean-Paul Duminy, David Miller, Imran Tahir, Aiden Markram, Kagiso Rabada, Morne Morkel, Chris Morris, AB de Villiers, Andile Phehlukwayo

India [IND] Probable Playing 11 :

Virat Kohli (c), Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, MS Dhoni, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya,  Ajinkya Rahane, Yuzvendra Chahal, Axar Patel/ Kedar Jadhav, Kuldeep Yadav

What do you think? Do listen to our podcast for more views. We are proud to share this new feature with you.

Indu

P.S. Please note that the above-expressed opinions are purely the Editor’s. We do not take

responsibility, nor can we guarantee the performance of the players. All the best !!!