Inexperienced India eye for redemption from 2022 with a series win

The entirety of this ODI series feels like a formality. The primary coaching staff of India skipped the ODI series. Shreyas Iyer was available for only one match as he had to join the Test squad practice. South Africa’s two mainstays in the ODI format - Kagiso Rabada and Temba Bavuma - were not part of the Proteas squad either.

In total, the whole series was out of context. The only thing exciting about this ODI series from India's perspective are the youngsters like Sai Sudharsan, Rinku Singh, and Tilak Varma. 

In the first ODI, Indian bowlers killed the game in the first innings, dismissing the hosts for just 116. Arshdeep Singh, struggling with form in the shortest format, was clinical in India's win. The batters had little to prove in the first match. But the batters stumbled when the opportunity was there in the second game. Apart from Sudharsan, none of the other youngsters stepped up.

While the hosts suffered a demoralizing defeat in the first ODI, they bounced back with a stunning win in the second to level the series. Their openers were exceptional in forging a 130-run partnership in a chase of 212. Though Reeza Hendricks was dismissed after his half-century, Tony de Zorzi scored an unbeaten 119. 

Both sides are packed with inexperience in this series. South Africa at least has some experience in the batting line-up, but apart from KL Rahul, there is no one for India. With the series levelled, it is a test for the Indian youngsters to pass with flying colours and win the series. 

Things to watch out for

Axar's form is a concerning one 

India’s bowling is packed with inexperience in this series. The pace department has a combined experience of 17 ODIs, leaving Kuldeep Yadav and Axar Patel as the leaders of the bowling attack. However, Axar's form with both bat and ball has been worrying. 

The left-arm orthodox spinner has played ten matches in 2023, where he averages 19.9 with the bat and 64.5 with the ball. He has given away more runs than he has scored. Among bowlers from full-member nations who have bowled 40+ overs, only Agha Salman (92.95) and Cameron Green (66.8) have a poorer average than him. His form this year has been so concerning that he has bowled his full quota of ten overs only once in eight innings. 

At this point, it seems like time is running out for the left-arm spinner, who is vying for a spot in India’s squad for the upcoming T20 World Cup in the Caribbean and the United States of America.

Can de Zorzi continue his good run? 

Regardless of his match-winning century in the second ODI against India, Tony de Zorzi looked like a compact batter in the first ODI even though he only scored 28. 

In tricky conditions at St. George’s Park on Tuesday (December 19), the left-handed opener did not back out on his shots. While Reeza was looking to evade the movement, de Zorzi took on the Indian pacers and registered a fifty off just 55 balls compared to Reeza's 71-ball feat. To elaborate more, in the first 50 balls, Zorzi struck at 94 (47 runs) compared to 48 by Reeza (24). 

With Quinton de Kock retiring from the ODIs and Tests, South Africa's need for a left-handed opener has increased. By all means, this series is an audition for that spot. It is a giant shoe to fill in, but Zorzi must constantly evolve in this shoe. He was the first South African opener apart from de Kock in ten years to score a century against India in ODIs. It's not a bad start.

Ground details

In ODIs since 2017, five matches have been played at the Boland Park. In all five, South Africa have been victorious, including the last two games against India in 2022. Teams batting first have won three out of the five matches. 

Apart from Zimbabwe in 2018, all other teams have scored above 280 in the first innings in the remaining four. Hence, the average first innings score is around 291. 

The pacers have bagged 67.2% of the wickets (45) in the last five games at an economy of 5.6, an average of 35.4, and a bowling strike rate of 37.9. On the other hand, the spinners have a lower economy (5.3), but they have bagged a wicket every 49 runs and 55.1 balls. 

Tactical insights

Tilak Varma is yet to establish himself in international cricket and has already found a weakness that beckons him. 

In the 17 innings he has batted in internationals (ODIs & T20Is), Tilak has got out to pace seven times, and six of those have been to short balls. In the second ODI as well, he succumbed to a short ball, joining the list of Indian batters with short ball troubles. 

Samson's struggles against LAP

Throughout this year, left-arm pacers have been Sanju Samson's nemesis across limited-over formats (T20s & ODIs). 

In the second ODI, he was dismissed to Beuran Hendricks while attempting a lazy drive (inside edge bowled). Across the two formats, Samson averages 13 in 12 innings against the bowling type with six dismissals. He has a dismissal every nine balls against the left-arm pacers. Watch out for this battle, yet again. 

Probable XI

The hosts would want to keep their winning combination. Even if they do, Tabraiz Shamsi might swap with Beuran Hendricks. As for the visitors, Rajat Patidar might make his debut in place of Tilak. With no back-up opener in India's squad, Ruturaj Gaikwad could keep his place. 

South Africa XI: Reeza Hendricks, Tony de Zorzi, Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram (c), Heinrich Klaasen (wk), David Miller, Wian Mulder, Nandre Burger, Lizaad Williams, Beuran Hendricks/Tabraiz Shamsi

India XI: Ruturaj Gaikwad, Sai Sudharsan, Rajat Patidar/Tilak Varma, KL Rahul (c), Sanju Samson (wk), Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Avesh Khan, Mukesh Kumar