South Africa Playing 11 vs India – 1st ODI, 2023

South Africa takes on India in a three-match ODI series at home starting with the first ODI in Johannesburg on Sunday, December 17. India won the last T20I to level the T20I series 1-1.

Aiden Markram will continue to lead South Africa with regular captain Temba Bavuma rested. Quinton de Kock is also retired from ODIs leaving someone to fill up his absence. Markram along with David Miller and Heinrich Klaasesn will be the three key batters in the South African side.

Their seam bowling attack looks inexperienced in the absence of Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje. Lungi Ngidi, and Marco Jansen are also not part of the squad. Keshav Maharaj and Tabraiz Shamsi are the specialist spinners in the side.

While India might hand a debut cap to Rinku Singh, South Africa might do the same with Nandre Burger. The Proteas whitewashed India under KL Rahul’s captaincy when they toured the country last.

Also Read: India vs South Africa Match Preview- 1st ODI, 2023

This time around with the senior players missing, the series might be much more closely contested. In this article, we predict South Africa’s playing XI for the first ODI which is under a rain cloud.

South Africa Playing 11 vs India – 1st ODI, 2023

Reeza Hendricks

Hendricks will open the batting for South Africa. He was in good form in the T20I series and needs to keep his form going in the absence of his skipper. With 858 runs, the right-hander is inching closer to 1000 ODI runs.

Tony de Zorzi

Zorzi will open the batting with Hendricks. The 20-year-old has played two Tests and two ODIs for South Africa so far The youngster is being seen as someone with great batting potential. He has a chance to make an impact straight away.

Aiden Markram (C)

Markram will slot in at three. He led the side in the T20Is and will continue to lead the side in the ODIs as well. The World Cup semi-final against Australia was his last ODI for South Africa. He is inching closer to 3000 ODI runs.

Rassie Van der Dussen

Van der Dussen might bat at four. He did not play in the T20Is against India. The World Cup semi-final was also his last ODI for South Africa. Like his skipper, he is a regular in the South African ODI side.

David Miller

The experienced Miller will bat at five. He has enough experience of playing against India both at home and away. He is 500-odd runs away from reaching 5000 ODI runs and can certainly get close to it in this series.

Heinrich Klaasen (WK)

Klaasesn will bat at six. He loves playing against India across formats and averages nearly 60. He plays spin well and has another chance to take on the Indian spinners in this series.

Andile Phehlukwayo

Andile Phelukwayo might play as the specialist all-rounder in the XI in the absence of Marco Jansen. He hit the winning runs in the second T20I against India. HJe has the ability to play impactful cameos.

Nandre Burger

Burger might make his ODI debut in the first ODI against India. He made his T20I debut in the last match against India picking 1 for 39 off his four overs. His left-arm swing can pose problems for the Indian batters.

Lizaad Williams

Williams will be the other pacer in the playing XI. He picked up 2 for 46 in the third T20I. The pacer has already played a couple of Tests and ODIs apart from playing 11 T20Is.

Keshav Maharaj

Maharaj will be one of the two specialist spinners. He has posed problems for Indian batters right from the World Cup and even in the T20I series. The spinner has picked 52 wickets from 41 ODIs so far.

Tabraiz Shamsi

Shamsi concludes the likely playing XI. He picked up two wickets in the T20I series. In 50 ODIs, he has picked up 72 wickets and has another opportunity to make a mark. Maharaj has been preferred over Shamsi off late in ODIs.

Also Read: IND vs SA: Rinku Singh To Make ODI Debut vs South Africa, Confirms KL Rahul