Last Updated on 7 years by Charbel Coorey
AB de Villiers is back. He has a superb record in pink ODIs at Johannesburg. South Africa are 3-0 down and have been beaten soundly in each game. Will AB’s return rejuvenate South Africa?
With the World Cup less than 18 months away, South Africa look uncertain and down on confidence, and have struggled significantly in the absence of AB and Faf Du Plessis. The Indian wrist spinners have dominated South Africa as if it is men vs boys, and if South Africa are to keep their hopes of levelling the series, they simply have to better at picking Chahal and Kuldeep out of the hand, rather than playing the ball off the pitch.
For India, everything seems nicely into place at the moment. In addition to their two wrist spinners, Virat Kohli has been simply superb, flattening South Africa with a brilliant 160* in the previous game. It was good to see Shikhar Dhawan hit form, and now, India would want Rohit Sharma to show greater form away from home.
Key to a South Africa win
After Faf Du Plessis’ series ended prematurely at Durban in the 1st ODI, the rest of the South African batting line up needed to step up in his absence. That has simply not been the case, and we’ve witnessed two very one sided games since.
The return of AB de Villiers is news sure to be welcomed across South Africa, and if he can fire in
another pink ODI which he loves so much, South Africa can be a lot more competitive.
Key to an India win
India have smelt blood in the water all series. They know that South Africa are on the canvas, and with Virat Kohli as captain, there is no way India will let their foot of the opposition’s throat.
India have been simply superb with the ball in this series. After Faf Du Plessis’ 120 took South Africa to 269/8 in Durban, India have embarrassed South Africa in both games since, and it has been Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav who have been the chief destroyers.
Will they have the same impact against a team with AB de Villiers in it? It will be interesting to see.
Predicted teams:
AB de Villiers returns, which means skipper Aiden Markram will open once again. With JP Duminy’s encouraging half century in Cape Town, South Africa will have a top four in this game that can challenge India. The worry though is Amla’s form, as well as the form of the middle order, which has seen David Miller’s position in doubt. I expect him to play, and so too Morne Morkel for extra experience.
South Africa XI: 1. Hashim Amla, 2. Aiden Markram (c), 3. JP Duminy, 4. AB de Villiers, 5. Farhaan Behardein, 6. David Miller, 7. Chris Morris, 8. Andile Phehlukwayo, 9. Kagiso Rabada, 10. Morne Morkel, 11. Imran Tahir
India haven’t made a change yet to their lineup this series, and until they have the series won, it is unlikely they’ll make any changes.
India XI: 1. Rohit Sharma, 2. Shikhar Dhawan, 3. Virat Kohli, 4. Ajinkya Rahane, 5. MS Dhoni, 6. Kedar Yadav, 7. Hardik Pandya, 8. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 9. Jasprit Bumrah, 10. Kuldeep Yadav, 11. Yuzvendra Chahal
Stats and Facts:
- South Africa in pink ODIs: 5 matches, 5 wins
- Faf Du Plessis, having played just one game this series, remains South Africa’s leading run scorer. Next best is JP Duminy with 88.
- Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal have taken a combined 21 wickets in 52.2 overs at an extraordinary average of 9.05 and economy of 3.64
- AB de Villiers’ scores in pink ODIs: 128 (108), 77 (47), 149 (44), 36 (27), 60* (61)
- Highest percentage of hundreds per innings in ODI history (min. 15 hundreds): – VIRAT KOHLI: 17.26%, Hashim Amla: 16.46%, AB de Villiers: 11.63%, Sachin Tendulkar: 10.84%
Prediction:
The return of AB will make the life of captain Aiden Markram much easier, and will result in an improved South Africa.
However, India look a different beast at the moment, and AB can’t beat them on his own. I expect India to become the first team to win a pink ODI. In the process, they will take out the series.
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