Johannesburg: The three-match ODI series begins, and with it begins the journey of liberation for the Proteas and India when both sides lock horns in the first of the three-match ODI series at Wanderers here on Sunday.
Both the teams had a good World Cup campaign but fell short at the crucial juncture of the tournament.
The hosts were unbeatable until they plated in the finals of the World Cup at the colossal Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad. All were betting on Rohit Sharma's team emulating Mahendra Singh Dhoni's 2011 side lifting the trophy.
But the Australians shattered the dreams of millions of Indians by giving a telling blow when it mattered the most.
This took a heavy toll on senior players as the likes of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma opted to take a rest for the South Africa white-ball series, to rejuvenate themselves for the Test series, starting on Boxing Day.
In this scenario, the KL Rahul-led Team India will be keen on beginning their new era on a strong note with youngsters, and some of them have already been impressive of late.
Tilak Varma, Sai Sudharsan and Rinku Singh showed their class in the T20I series with a sparkling half-century at St George’s Park in the second match.
The Proteas too will try to get their foothold right without the services of retired Quinton de Kock, and the absence of skipper Temba Bavuma and fast bowlers Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Gerald Coetzee and Marco Jansen due to injury or resting factor.
This has given a chance to senior pros like Kyle Verreynne to make a comeback after his splendid performance for Western Province in the Cricket SA 1-Day Cup.
There are also a host of fresh young talents in the squad, with Nandre Burger and Mihlali Mpongwana earning maiden ODI call-ups, and top-order batsman Tony de Zorzi is expected to take Bavuma’s place alongside Reeza Hendricks.
On the last two occasions India was on the tour, South Africa won both matches comfortably, by a mammoth 141 runs in 2013 and by five wickets in 2018.
Teams
India: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Sai Sudharsan, Tilak Varma, Rajat Patidar, Rinku Singh, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (captain), Sanju Samson, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mukesh Kumar, Avesh Khan, Arshdeep Singh, Deepak Chahar.
South Africa: Proteas: Aiden Markram (captain), Ottniel Baartman, Nandre Burger, Tony de Zorzi, Reeza Hendricks, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, Mihlali Mpongwana, David Miller, Wiaan Mulder, Andile Phehlukwayo, Tabraiz Shamsi, Rassie van der Dussen, Kyle Verreynne, Lizaad Williams. (UNI)