India will be keen to sign off with a victory and inflict a 5-1 series victory over South Africa in the final ODI at Centurion on Friday. The visitors stormed to a superb victory in the 5th ODI to notch a maiden bilateral series on South African soil.
With leading the six-match series standing at 4-1, Virat Kohli’s side will be eager to go out on a high and carry the momentum for the upcoming T20I series. The Indian contingent have been in prime form and go into the tie as favourites.
India’s ODI Series in South Africa
- 1992-93: Lost 2-5
- 2006-07: Lost 0-4
- 2010-11: Lost 2-3
- 2013-14: Lost 0-2
- 2018: Leading series 4-1
For India skipper Kohli, with 429 runs in the ODI series so far, has led from the front and has been in ominous form. Alongside him, southpaw Shikhar Dhawan has looked in fine nick as well throughout the series and will be the key to give India a dominant total on board in the final ODI. Also Rohit Sharma has hit form in the right time and will be keen to add to his 115-run knock in the previous match.
The Proteas on the other hand was once again in tatters against the spin duo of Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav in the fifth ODI. They will be hungry to do well against the Indian bowlers with runs having hard to come by.
STAT ATTACK:
- India have won 28 out of the last 37 bilateral matches.
- Kohli has amassed 429 runs in five matches hitting two centuries
- India’s wrist spinners have taken 30 wicketsÂ
Team selection and news:
India
With series already in their pockets, India will be keen to resting some of their players before the T20I series. Therefore the likes of Mohammed Shami and Axar Patel might come into the picture. With Axar likely to get a game, one of Chahal or Kuldeep may be rested. In the batting department, all eyes will be on India’s middle order.
They have not lived up to the mark this series and that is one department that hasn’t quite clicked. Manish Pandey might get a look in and the option of Dinesh Karthik lies there too. Shreyas Iyer scored 18 and 30 in his two outings and could make way for either of Pandey or Karthik. Jasprit Bumrah, who has played every match on the tour is likely to get a rest in the pace department.
India had a collapse in the previous game and they haven’t quite maximised in the last 10 overs. One might see MS Dhoni be promoted up the order this time to provide some authority and steel.
South Africa
Heinrich Klaasen has given a decent account of himself with the bat. He played two good innings in the previous two games. With Quinton de Kock still injured, it is a big opportunity for Klaasen to show he can be their go to man. Hashim Amla and Aiden Markram need to build on their opening stand and get more runs especially with the Proteas middle-order being out of shape.
This ODI will be of huge significance for the likes of JP Duminy and David Miller. The duo need to give the side the platform in the middle with both needing a big score under their belt. The Proteas bowlers have done a good job especially making regular comebacks to stall the Indian charge. Lungi Ngidi and Kagiso Rabada will once again be the leaders of the pack.
Chris Morris has recovered from a stiff back and could make an entry.
Pitch and conditions
Centurion has been the most home-like conditions for India so far. So similarities like the previous games are expected. Reports of thunderstorm and rain are there, but given the good drainage, match should take place normally.
India;Â Virat Kohli (capt), Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane, Shreyas Iyer, Manish Pandey, Dinesh Karthik, Kedar Jadhav, MS Dhoni (wk), Hardik Pandya, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Shardul Thakur.
South Africa: Aiden Markram (captain), Hashim Amla, Farhaan Behardien, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Imran Tahir, Heinrich Klaasen (wkt), David Miller, Morne Morkel, Chris Morris, Lungi Ngidi, Andile Phehlukwayo, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Khaya Zondo.
Match starts at: 4.30 pm IST.