IND vs SA Preview: Table toppers set for an epic clash in Kolkata

India and South Africa will square off in the 37th game of the ongoing ODI World Cup 2023 on November 5. Both the teams have already reached the semi-final, having won seven and games respectively.

The Rohit Sharma-led side’s last win came against Sri Lanka at the iconic Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai. In that game, India posted a mammoth 357 runs after being asked to bat first with Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, and Shreyas Iyer all scoring half-centuries. Later, bowlers ran the riot and restricted the Kusal Mendis-led side to just 55 in 19.4 overs. Mohammed Shami was key for the Men in Blue, picking up five wickets for just 18 runs.

On the other hand, South Africa are coming into the game with a convincing 190-run win over New Zealand. After being invited to bat first, the Proteas set a massive 358-run target, courtesy of Quinton de Kock (114) and Rassie van der Dussen’s (133) astounding centuries. David Miller also contributed significantly, scoring a half-century. Keshav Maharaj (4/46) and Marco Jansen (3/31) then led the attack as South Africa restricted the Kiwis by 167 in 35.3 overs. A win against India will help them to secure the top spot in the table.

Pitch Report

The pitch at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata is more favourable to batters. The surface is known to slow down in the later phases of the game, providing favorable conditions for the spinners, yet also offers bounce in the early stages. Optingto bat first and building a huge target can turn out to be a smart move.

Probable Playing XI

India

Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj

South Africa

Quinton de Kock (wk), Temba Bavuma (c), Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Marco Jansen, Gerald Coetzee, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi