After ending their New Zealand tour on a disappointing note following a 2-0 series defeat in the two Tests, Virat Kohli-led India return to home soil, where they host South Africa for a three-match ODI series. The Proteas last toured India in September last year, where they drew the three-match T20I series 1-1 following a washout in the first match and went onto suffer a humiliating 3-0 defeat in the Tests. At that time, the two teams did not meet in the 50-over format and revenge will be on Proteas’ minds.
India vs South Africa, Highlights, 1st ODI in Dharamsala, Full Cricket Score: Match abandoned due to persistent rain
File photo of India captain Virat Kohli (L) and South Africa captain Quinton de Kock batting. AFP
Unlike India, South Africa had a memorable series recently – they thumped Australia 3-0 on home turf, where Heinrich Klaasen (242 runs) and Lungi Ngidi (9 wickets) starred ending as the series’ top run-getter and wicket-taker respectively.
However, Quinton de Kock’s side did suffered a huge blow as Kagiso Rabada was ruled out midway through the Australia T20Is and eventually was withdrawn from the ODIs against Australia and India.
Meanwhile, Faf du Plessis and Rassie van der Dussen returns to the Proteas set-up after being rested for the Australia ODIs.
From India’s point of view, while Rohit Sharma has been rested, Hardik Pandya, Shikhar Dhawan and Bhuvneshwar Kumar return to the side after their absences due to injuries.
Pandya, in fact, has not played an international game since featuring for the Men in Blue against the Proteas in a T20I in September last year. He underwent successful back surgery after that, following which he was ruled out for a few months. He has been in some form recently, though, registering scores of 105, 46 and 158 for Reliance 1 in the DY Patil T20 tournament.
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