ICC World Cup 2019: Match 8, India vs South Africa - Toss Report

Indian National Cricket Team will finally begin their ICC World Cup 2019 campaign when they take on South Africa on June 5 (Wednesday) at the Ageas Bowl in Southampton. It will be a nail-biter as India will look to set their standards early while the Proteas will want to bounce back after two straight defeats.

India will look to set early standards

South Africa received a massive blow with fast bowler Dale Steyn ruled out of the tournament with a shoulder injury. Besides, Lungi Ngidi missing this clash with a little niggle has only piled up to their worries. Faf du Plessis will have to make things work with whatever resources he has in his hand. Meanwhile, one more defeat will make them lag in the race of qualifications. The team needs to come out as a unit and back each other with the senior cricketers taking the onus of leading the team from the front against a strong India side.

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On the other hand, India are raring to take the field after a few good practice session. They received the boost of Kedar Jadhav who will be available for selection. The middle order also looks settled with KL Rahul and MS Dhoni settling the doubts with individual centuries in the last warm-up game. The bowling has looked complete in the last two years, and the management will only want them to keep doing what they have done in the past.

Toss Report

India skipper Virat Kohli has lost the toss and was put to bowl first by South Africa skipper Faf du Plessis.

Playing XI

India:  Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli(c), Lokesh Rahul, MS Dhoni(w), Kedar Jadhav, Hardik Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah

South Africa: Quinton de Kock(w), Hashim Amla, Faf du Plessis(c), Rassie van der Dussen, David Miller, Jean-Paul Duminy, Andile Phehlukwayo, Chris Morris, Kagiso Rabada, Imran Tahir, Tabraiz Shamsi

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Here is what the captains said,

Virat Kohli

The crowd support will be massive for us. Lots of people who live here and lots who are travelling here. For us it’s about keeping composure, remembering why we got the results in the last two years and continuing the same way. Bhuvi, Bumrah, Kuldeep and Chahal are all playing. When these guys and Hardik are playing along with Jadhav, we are always a strong bowling attack. I’m very excited, after so much cricket in the last two years. Couldn’t be more grateful and happy.

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Faf du Plessis

We are having a bat. Mostly because of the makeup of the side against two spinners, that’s the best option. Amla is back for this game. Morris is still playing, and we’re bringing in an extra spinner. We didn’t have the ideal start, but we need to keep going. We need to win 6 games to get to the semis, we have seven games left.