View of Dhauladhar Range from HPCA Stadium Dharamshala Photo: Wikimedia commons

India vs South Africa: First ODI at Dharamsala – preview

India and South Africa lock horns in the first of three ODIs on Thursday 12 March 2020 at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala.

by James Richardson

10-03-2020 10:50

in Cricket

View of Dhauladhar Range from HPCA Stadium Dharamshala Photo: Wikimedia commons

India vs South Africa: The Proteas are in India to complete the second instalment of their bilateral engagement with a three-match ODI series.

The series gets underway at the Himachal Pradesh Cricket Association Stadium in Dharamsala. The city nestled in the foothills of the Himalayas is one of the most breath-taking places the game of cricket is played.

India vs South Africa: First ODI

South Africa played the very first T20I at the venue but this will be the Proteas maiden ODI at the HPCA Stadium.

India have played four ODIs at the venue, losing two and winning two. The side batting second has won three of the four contests at the ground.

For the Proteas, this series is a continuation of a process of rebuilding instituted by Team Director Mark Boucher. Boucher can be pleased with the progress of the white-ball teams and will be keen to see them compete with a world-class India outfit.

After an impressive ODI series against Australia, Janneman Malan forced his way into the squad. All of a sudden the Proteas have abundant options in the middle order where most of the tough choices will need to be made.

Cobras spin-bowling allrounder George Linde enters the fray and is in line for an ODI debut while Tabraiz Shamsi has been given time off to spend with his wife and newborn.

India have selected a strong squad with opener Shikhar Dhawan and allrounder Hardik Pandya passed fit to return to action.

Like the Proteas, India have ample middle-order batting options but will be keen to see of Shreyas Iyer can maintain his good form of late against South Africa.

Kuldeep Yadav is India’s dangerman with the ball, but the Proteas would do well to develop plans for each of the bowlers in a class attack.

India vs South Africa: squads

India: Shikhar Dhawan, Prithvi Shaw, Virat Kohli (C), KL Rahul, Manish Pandey, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah, Navdeep Saini, Kuldeep Yadav, Shubman Gill.

South Africa: Quinton de Kock (captain), Temba Bavuma, Rassie van der Dussen, Faf du Plessis, Kyle Verreynne, Heinrich Klaasen, Janneman Malan David Miller, Jon-Jon Smuts, Andile Phehlukwayo, Lungi Ngidi, Lutho Sipamla, Beuran Hendricks, Anrich Nortje, George Linde, Keshav Maharaj.