South Africa and India are all set to face each other in a three-match One-Day International (ODI) series, starting Wednesday (January 19) in Paarl.
Both nations recently competed in a three-match Test series, where the hosts managed to beat India by 2-1 to continue their dominant track record over the visitors at home in the red-ball format.
Meanwhile, the last time India when toured the rainbow nation back in 2018, they defeated South Africa by 5-1 in the six-match ODI series. It was one of the finest series with the bat for Virat Kohli, scoring 558 runs in six innings at an outstanding average of 186.
However, Kohli will not be the captain of the team this time, and KL Rahul would be leading the Indian troops with Jasprit Bumrah as his deputy. When it comes to the hosts, Temba Bavuma will be the skipper of the Proteas side.
Head-to-Head record (in South Africa):
Played: 34 | SA won: 22 | IND won: 10 | No result: 2
Pitch report:
The track at this venue will get slower as the game progresses, so spinners are expected to leave their impact on the game. The pitch is not quick enough, but batters, if they play sensibly, can make the most out of it.
Probable XIs:
South Africa: Temba Bavuma (c), Quinton de Kock, Janneman Malan, Rassie van der Dussen, David Miller, Wayne Parnell, Andile Phehlukwayo, Keshav Maharaj, Sisanda Magala, Lungi Ngidi, Tabraiz Shamsi
India: KL Rahul (c), Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, Shreyas Iyer, Venkatesh Iyer, Shardul Thakur, R Ashwin, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Yuzvendra Chahal
Match Prediction:
Case 1:
- SA wins the toss and bats first
- Powerplay score: 40-50
- SA total: 250-265
Case 2:
- IND wins the toss and bats first
- Powerplay score: 45-55
- IND total: 260-280
India to win the contest.
