The Proteas are on the board in the World Test Championship and now turn their attention to climbing the Cricket World Cup Super League. India meanwhile are the hosts of the 2023 World Cup but will have a point to prove against the Proteas.
South Africa vs India | Wednesday 19 January | Boland Park, Paarl | 10:30
To Win Match
South Africa 31/20 | Tie 25/1 | India 52/100
South Africa
South Africa haven’t played any ODI cricket since their aborted series against the Netherlands which fell victim to the great Omicron panic. An added issue is that there has also been no domestic List A cricket in this time.
The Proteas welcome back Quinton de Kock who is expected to resume his partnership with Aiden Markram at the top of the order.
Janneman Malan has been in a rich vein of form in the format but faces a big test of his credentials against a team that are among the best white-ball sides in the world.
Test hero Marco Jansen is also in line to make his ODI debut against India in the upcoming series while all-rounder Wayne Parnell is another left-arm seam option.
Andile Phehlukwayo will be desperate to improve his all-round performance with Parnell, Dwaine Pretorius and Wiaan Mulder all vying for a place in the side as allrounders.
India
India had already stripped Virat Kohli of his ODI captaincy before the series but the group could still be affected by the former skipper’s frame of mind coming into the three-match engagement.
Kohli’s place in the team as a batter is not in question at the moment but India have an abundance of batting talent coming through and might soon start to see the veteran as jamming up the works.
Stand-in skipper KL Rahul, will also substitute for Rohit Sharma as opening partner to Shikhar Dhawan.
CSK sensation Ruturaj Gaikwad is in line to make his ODI debut for India if he can crack the playing XI.
Despite the Test series loss, India look to be an imposing unit.
Verdict: India 52/100
India should bounce back and show the Proteas a thing or two with the white ball.
