India vs South Africa ODI series is all set to start from 12th March 2020.
Team India is all set to face South Africa in the upcoming ODI series at home from 12th March to 18th March. The series will be a worth-watch for the fans and quite competitive for the players.
Catch the live score updates on India vs South Africa ODI series
The matches will be played days before the Indian Premier League (IPL) and are most likely to clash with the World XI vs Asia XI.
India vs South Africa has always been an exciting contest as the two teams are amongst the strongest in the limited-overs format.
This will be a challenge for both the captains as Virat Kohli will look forward to rising from a brutal loss against New Zealand in the ODI and Test series, whereas Quinton de Kock, the newly appointed captain of South African national side will hope to continue his winning ways away from home after defeating Australi 3-0 in three-match ODI series. The first ODI will be played at Dharamsala and bowlers will be pivotal in the match result.
Key Players to watch out for India vs South Africa ODI series
This series will be a deciding factor on the potential of the two captains as the decisions taken by the Indian captain have been under the banner after the New Zealand loss.
The series will be a test for the players, especially the South African cricketers as they will have to deal with the subcontinent pitches that are quite uneven and green.
Both the teams will look forward to putting their best step ahead, with the first match being played at Dharamsala tomorrow at 1:30 pm IST.
As we move forward with the India vs South Africa ODI series, there will be a lot of cricket and drama from the players as well as the fans and management.
It could be a bit tiring for the players but that’s what the game of cricket is, blood and sweat.
The players will try to give it their best to clinch the series and some of them will have crucial roles to play. So let’s take a look at the players who will be the X-factors during the India-South Africa series.
KL RAHUL
The right-handed wicketkeeper-batsman will have a crucial role to play in this series.
With his current form and development, the Indian team depends highly on him to score some quick runs in the middle and handle the innings.
The young batsman from Bengaluru has been successful in the shorter formats, especially One-Day cricket.
The player of the series in India vs New Zealand T20 series, Lokesh Rahul carried the team when the captain couldn’t perform.
A lot will be depended on the batsman as he may be considered for the role of full-time wicketkeeper-batsman in the Indian team in limited formats.
KL Rahul will be a crucial pick in the playing XI, considering the way he can adapt himself to the situations. With Shikhar Dhawan and Hardik Pandya back in the squad, there are chances that he will open alongside Shikhar but it will be preferable if he bats in the middle.
One of the finest batsmen in the current India squad, KL Rahul has a long way to go and a lot to prove and the South African pace test will be a big hurdle to leap off.
SHREYAS IYER
Another middle-order batsman from India, Shreyas Iyer is a young talent who was an integral part of the India squad in the recent tours.
Even though the Indian team lost the ODI series, Shreyas Iyer emerged as one of the most brilliant performers for team India.
With Shreyas Iyer in the squad, it looks like the selectors have finally found a player for the No. 4 position which has been abandoned for quite some time.
Shreyas will be a crucial pick in the playing XI if Team India needs to win the matches and set a good score on the board.
The right-handed batsman who is also the captain of the Delhi Capitals side in the Indian Premier League and will look forward to joining the Delhi camp after the South Africa series.
Shreyas’ performance will be critical for Team India’s victory and could be the talking factor amongst the commentators.
HARDIK PANDYA
Now that he is back in the squad, a lot depends on him in the series against South Africa. The right-handed all-rounder fits perfectly to the No. 6 spot and can provide the bowling assistance too.
Team India was missing an all-rounder in the previous series and Hardik Pandya will fit right into the squad. He is one of the most important players as he can save a few runs by his fielding techniques and provide extra bowling and batting options.
Hardik was a regular part of the Indian team and had taken a leave from the vigorous playing time to spend some time with his family.
In the DY Patil T20 Cup semifinal, Hardik smashed an astonishing 55-ball 158. It was one of the finest innings of the all-rounder and the Indian team will look forward to the player contributing the same way.
YUZVENDRA CHAHAL
The right-handed maestro has been there for the Indian team whenever they need a breakthrough.
Yuzi has been a brilliant right-handed leg spinner and has been consistent with his performance over the years.
Team India needs him and it was quite evident in the India-New Zealand series. He was the only bowler who held the team and put up a fight against the opponents.
His stats have been brilliant in the limited-overs format and with the proper playing time, he can do wonders for the Indian team.
Indian team pushes hard when their backs are against the wall and so does Yuzi Chahal.
He will get the team a wicket when no one has expected, and this is what makes the young bowler one of the most dangerous spinners out there.
DAVID MILLER
The left-handed batsman has been in brilliant form lately, and the series against Australia was one of his finest performances.
South Africa defeated Australia 3-0 in the three match-ODI series and David Miller was an integral part of that success.
If it hadn’t been for him to come out in the middle and play stable innings, South Africa wouldn’t look comfortable against Australia.
India will have to get the batsman out to destabilize their middle-order or else South Africa will be a difficult side to beat with David Miller and Heinrich Klaasen in the midfield.
Apart from being a brilliant batsman, Miller is an exceptional fielder and saves quite a few runs for his team. He will be a crucial player for the South African team.
HEINRICH KLAASEN
He was the backbone of the South African batting line up against Australia. He hit two half-centuries and a century in the three ODIs.
His form has been brilliant and he remained not out in two of the three innings.
A confident and reliable batsman for the South Africans, Klaasen looks like a big risk for the Indian bowlers, especially when they have been unable pickup wickets in recent matches.
Heinrich and Miller are the two batting forces for the South African team and the captain depends on them for getting a big total on the board.
South African batting wasn’t going in harmony with their bowling, but with great knocks from Klaasen and Miller, the team seems to grow brilliantly.
Indian bowlers will have difficulty getting him out and they will have to come up with variations to tame the batsman.
LUNGI NGIDI
Kagiso Rabada’s injury has been a blessing in disguise for the bowler and the South African team.
Ngidi has taken up the role of the lead bowler quite brilliantly and his spell has been nothing short of a miracle for the South African team.
He played two matches against Australia and claimed 9 wickets to showcase his skills and techniques. His pace and swing are difficult to bat against the new ball.
The Indian batsmen will have to play carefully against the right-arm fast bowler.
A lot of batsmen have fallen prey to his bowling prowess and it is not easy to face the bowler.
Ngidi will be a big risk to the Indian batsmen and one of the players on who South African captain, Quinton de Kock depend wholly.
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