SA vs IND 2018, 'Pink ODI', Johannesburg: South African Predicted XI

With the host out of contention of winning the 6-match ODI series, the focus now shifts to Johannesburg for the ‘Pink ODI’, where the South African players don their pink coloured jerseys to create awareness for breast cancer. The home side traditionally has done well in the ‘Pink ODIs’ where they have a 100% record.

Their batting will be buoyed by the return of their ace batsman AB de Villiers and the masses would hope he repeats his heroics from the Pink game of 2015 where he smashed the West Indian bowlers to score the fastest the century in ODIs.

That said, let us look at the predicted XI of the South African side.

Aiden Markram

With the absence of AB de Villiers and Faf du Plessis, Markram had to shoulder immense responsibility in both the batting and the captaincy front. With De Villiers coming back into the equation, Markram can now set free his nerves and express himself with the bat opening the innings.

Hashim Amla

Woefully out-of-form Hashim Amla has to find a way to counter the incoming deliveries early on in the innings. The South African think tank would be hoping Amla would find his rhythm as traditionally he has done well in the ‘Pink ODI’. Being the quality player he is against spin, South Africa would want him to be present when the dreaded wrist spinning duo operates in the middle overs.

Jean-Paul Duminy

JP Duminy looked at home when he was promoted up the order. Duminy kept the required run-rate at a check and forged a brilliant partnership with the help of his half-century to get back to flow. Yet again, he would hold the key for the Protean batting line up for them put up a decent total on the board or chasing down the target.

AB de Villiers

South Africa would receive a major boost to their demoralized team and would hope for a major turn around in the presence of their talismanic batsman. Also, de Villiers would have a few tricks up his sleeves to deal with the wrist-spinning duo of Chahal and Kuldeep who have caused carnage within the South African team. Also, an experienced head around Markram on the field wouldn’t hurt host’s cause.

David Miller

David Miller, just like Hashim Amla, is one of the seniormost in the young South African team who needs to shoulder more responsibility. Miller is accused of giving his wicket away at crucial junctures of the game. An impactful inning from the South African ODI specialist remains due in the series.

Heinrich Klaasen

Given the hole in the South African middle order, one might have been tempted to bring in Farhaan Behardien in place of Klaasen and hand over the gloves to AB. But it would not be realistic as AB is freshly coming off an injury. Therefore, it becomes highly important that Klaasen responds to the situation and tries to cement his place into the side, given the patchy form of de Kock.

Chris Morris

Chris Morris may have struck a few boundaries this series but has largely bowled flat throughout. It would not be a bad idea for Gibson and co. to promote Morris up the order ahead of Klaasen and give him full license to attack the spinner. Gibson would also hope that he bowls above 145 clicks to make use of the conditions at Joburg.

Andile Phehlukwayo

Just like Morris, Andile Phehlukwayo has appeared flat with both bat and ball in the series. The all-rounder needs to step up his game and use his wide range of slower ones to create troubles for the Indian batsman. His big hitting abilities down the order has virtually remained untested in the series given the circumstances Proteans have found themselves on every occasion.

Kagiso Rabada

Rabada has been the only bowler in the South African lineup, who has created troubles for the Indian batsmen in the One Day leg of the tour. Rabada would definitely look to amp up his bowling with support from the other end in the form of Morkel.

Imran Tahir

Imran Tahir has largely been ineffective in the series due to his reservations regarding pitching the ball up to the Indian batsmen. Tahir has to toss the ball up to ask questions in front of Indian batsmen, who are quite happy to negotiate with his lower trajectory quicker deliveries.

Morne Morkel

Looking back at the 3rd ODI, it was a mistake to let Morkel sit out and the hosts missed his services on a juicy Cape Town surface where Rabada was clearly missing support from the other end with the new ball. The bowling would be strengthened if Morkel comes back in place of Ngidi.