The first ODI was called off after heavy overnight rain left the HPCA Stadium outfield waterlogged.
The series goes ahead despite growing fear that large gatherings could aid the spread of the coronavirus.
Photo Copyright – Steve Haag Sports
Second ODI | Sunday 15 March 2020 | Ekana Cricket Stadium, Lucknow | 10:00
To Win
India
Tie
South Africa
India
The fact that the series will now be contested across two matches means that experimentation will be limited from the hosts. However, with little riding on the encounter India could still do some middle-order shuffling.
Shubman Gill, Shreyas Iyer, and Prithvi Shaw represent the best and brightest young batting talents in India at the moment and could make up the core of the team down the road. How they fare against the Proteas could influence the level of their involvement in the rest of 2020.
India’s bowlers appear very concerned that they could be prohibited from using saliva to shine the ball as COVID-19 firms its grip on the country. The hosts come into the series with a world-class bowling attack that should test the new-found positivity of the Proteas.
The Ekana Stadium will host its first ODI involving India, the three preceding matches in the format at the venue were contested between Afghanistan and the West Indies.
South Africa
The Proteas could hardly be blamed for lacking focus in this series with so much going on in India and South Africa. Still, they are just two matches away from the end of the 2019/20 international season and would love to finish a problematic term on a high.
Janneman Malan forced his way into the squad with brilliance against Australia and will hopefully enjoy an extended run in the playing XI.
Malan may not get to open the batting though, with Temba Bavuma favoured to fill the slot as skipper Quinton de Kock’s opening partner. With no toss conducted in Dharamsala, it is unclear who would have played in the series opener.
Kagiso Rabada is out injured leaving Lungi Ngidi and Anrich Nortje to step up and lead the pace attack. Tabraiz Shamsi has been rested, which allows George Linde to show what he can do in the ODI format.
Verdict: India
The hosts have a very strong team.
Written by James Richardson for Hollywoodbets
