TACTICAL PREVIEW
Follow Us"I know how Neil Armstrong felt when he stood on the moon”
The moon hadn’t come to Kolkata on the 10th of November 1991. Not even the greatest of Bengali poets could have penned a metaphor strong enough for that to happen. But Clive Rice, South Africa’s skipper, was overcome with emotions after his country’s re-inclusion in International Cricket. It had taken 21 years and 8 months for South Africa to get here. It was a small step for Rice but a giant leap for cricket in the rainbow nation.
We return to that same scene from history almost 22 years after that day. Kolkata still has that 90s charm somewhere if you look for it. But nothing about Indian or South African cricket teams resembles the 90s.
These are well-built, super fit, and absolutely on fire in this ongoing World Cup. If you forget the blemish incurred during the Netherlands game, South Africa have had a near-flawless World Cup. Meanwhile, India’s campaign has been spotless so far. No dark spots of defeats. No creases or any apparent weaknesses.
It’s a contest between the best batters (two Indians - Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli, and three South Africans - Quinton de Kock, Aiden Markram and Rassie van der Dussen in the top ten run scorers) and the best bowlers (here also two Indians - Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Shami and three South Africans - Marco Jansen, Gerald Coetzee and Keshav Maharaj in the top ten wicket-takers) of this tournament.
It’s a top-of-the-table clash tomorrow, and if the authorities haven’t messed up the ticket sale, you can expect 66,000-strong Eden Grounds to make it feel that way. This game deserves a full house crowd and a game deserving to be called one for the ages.
Venue and Conditions
Eden Gardens has been a den of pacers recently. Until this World Cup, pacers took almost 70% of the wickets on this pitch at an average of 29.8. Spinners average 35.3, but they do have a lower economy.
The pitch is mostly quick and has good carry as well, with the game between Netherlands and Bangladesh being an exception where the spinners trounced the pacers with the help they got. However, expect the pitch to have pace and carry tomorrow as well, and with the lightning-fast outfield that is there, runs might just come thick and fast.
It’s a pitch tailor-made to host India and South Africa, considering both the team’s strengths.
Things to watch out for
India vs South Africa - a contest made in heaven!
South Africa has won 5 out of 5 games while batting first, and the only game they have lost in this World Cup has come while they were chasing against the Netherlands at Dharamsala. Meanwhile, on the other hand, India haven't lost any game in this World Cup.
Obviously, they have won five out of five while chasing.
What it does is that it pits two teams with contrasting strengths against each other. And that’s there, not just in chasing and defending games. It’s also a contest between the best batting side in the powerplay and death overs vs the best bowling side in both those phases.
While India has the second-highest run rate in the first 10 overs (6 RPO), South Africa has the best balls/dismissal in the first 10 overs as they are striking every 23.3 balls. India have scored 60-plus runs five times this World Cup, and the Proteas have taken more than two wickets in the powerplay seven times.
It’s like a competition between Superman and a villain made of Kryptonite.
A contest between the two best bowling sides of this WC
In a World Cup where the frequency of boundaries has numbed us to them, it's the exhilaration provided by the bowlers that has brought back the feels to this World Cup. And boy, what a feeling that has been!
To watch Marco Jansen is to watch a gentle genius giant spread smiles on South African faces one wicket at a time. And then there is Mohammad Shami, who can burn down stumps with the ferocity of his bowling.
And imagine, so great are these attacks that I haven’t even mentioned Bumrah and Coetzee or Rabada yet!
In this tournament, South Africa have the most wickets - 67. India are second with 66. When it comes to pace bowling, India averages 18.6 while the Proteas have 22.8. In spin bowling, South Africa are at the top, and India is second.
It’s a numerical musical chair if you want to decide the best bowling, just on stats. But you get the gist. These two teams are absolutely gun attacks, with a well-balanced mix of pacers and spinners.
Eden Garden fans are in for a ride tomorrow.
Can the King get to his 49th?
When you open any social media site to drown your sadness in reels, again, you have Virat Kohli’s 49th century following you as Betaal did with Vikram. So, the theme around this clash is all Kohli.
The great Sachin Tendulkar took 13 innings to reach his 100th century after his 99th. In the last two games, Kohli has scored 95 and 88, getting tantalisingly close to the milestone but falling prey to the anticipation of it. It’s his birthday tomorrow, and it's a good time to get that 100 and shut all that milestone noise.
Eden Gardens is ready to celebrate it.
Hopefully, Kohli will be too.
Tactical Insights
> Rohit just averages 33 against South Africa, which is the lowest for him against any opponent in ODIs. He’ll be playing in his favourite Eden Gardens tomorrow, which might be enough for him to perform despite his record. Moreover, despite playing left-arm pacers nicely (except Dilshan Madushanka) and scoring more runs in the first 10 overs than any other batter, he’ll be up against Marco Jansen, who has the best strike rate in the powerplays this World Cup. Ahh, can’t wait for this matchup to unfold tomorrow!
> Kuldeep Yadav averages the best against South Africa (16.2) amongst all teams and has some great memories of nullifying the threat of their batters with his turn. Moreover, he has also dismissed Aiden Markram three times out of the five that they have faced each other.
> Rassie van der Dussen has great numbers against spin overall. He’s averaging 64.88 with a strike rate of 93.4. However, in India, he just averages 25.67 against spin. Moreover, in this World Cup, he has got out two times to Left-arm spinners. Jadeja vs Rassie could potentially be another battle that could shape up the contest.
Probable XIs
Hardik Pandya isn’t part of the Indian squad anymore, with Prasidh Krishna replacing him in the squad. So, expect India to play the same team they played against Sri Lanka.
India probable XI - Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammad Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammad Siraj
South Africa don’t have any new injury concern, plus they would like their momentum to continue. So expect them to play the same XI as their last game.
South Africa probable XI - Temba Bavuma (c), Quinton de Kock (wk), Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen, Marco Jansen, Gerald Coetzee, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi
