India Vs South Africa 2018: Ahead Of Final ODI, Team India Opts Against A Practice Session

Ahead of the sixth and the final ODI against South Africa, team India opted against a practice session and decided to take some rest.

The Virat Kohli led side has already won the ODI series by a margin of 4-1, with one match still to go.

The dead rubber contest will be played on February 16 at Supersport Park in Centurion.

Before the final ODI, no practice session was held.

Going into the final ODI of the series, skipper Virat Kohli is also expected to make some changes in the side.

Mohammed Shami is expected to play this contest, which would also be the last game for him on this tour as he is not a part of the T20I side.

Along with him, Axar Patel might also walk in the team.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar might be rested for the final game whereas one of the settled players might make way for Axar.

Manish Pandey is expected not to play in the sixth ODI. Though he might get a chance in the T20I series.

With Virat Kohli already indicating that the team will look to increase the lead over South Africa, not many changes are expected in the side and one should not be surprised if India go in the final ODI with an unchanged squad.

Kohli, himself, has emerged out as the star in the series.

The Indian captain has scored 429 runs in five innings at an average of 143.00.

Apart from him, Shikhar Dhawan has also done well by accumulating 305 runs at 76.25.

Ajinkya Rahane and MS Dhoni have been under the scanner.

Rahane, who given the priority over others to at number four, has just scored 106 runs in four innings.

Dhoni has also struggled and just managed 69 runs off 85 balls.

For Rahane, the last game is an opportunity to do well as team India is not scheduled to play an ODI series until the month of July.

Hence, team management does not have many matches to test out more candidates at number four.

After the completion of the sixth ODI, both the teams will fly to play the first T20I in Johannesburg.

The three matches of T20I series will be played on February 18, 21 and 24.

Follow India’s tour to South Africa here:South Africa Vs India – Freedom Series

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