SA vs IND: ODI Series – 5 Indian players to watch out for
India and South Africa are all set to play a three-match ODI series starting on December 17 at the New Wanderers Stadium in Johannesburg. The Indian team would be eager to get back to winning ways after their heartbreak in the recently concluded ICC ODI World Cup 2023, where they were beaten in the finals. On the other hand, the Aussies also defeated the Proteas in the semifinal, and they too would be looking to make a fresh start here.
Let’s take a look at the 5 Indian players to watch out for in ODI series
5. Shreyas Iyer
Shreyas Iyer had an amazing time in recent months, particularly in the recently concluded ICC ODI World Cup 2023, where he scored 526 runs in ten innings, becoming India’s third-best batter of the tournament after Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma. His ability to hit huge sixes in the middle overs at will makes him a real threat to the opposition. Recently, in the T20 series against Australia as well, he scored a good fifty. He will be looking to continue his good form with the bat in the ODIs.
4. KL Rahul
KL Rahul has made a remarkable comeback after his injury in the Asia Cup 2023, exhibiting a distinct change in his game and scoring runs consistently, particularly during challenging situations. His dynamic approach to batting and his ability to anchor the innings makes him a thrilling player to watch. Against the Proteas, Rahul has played five matches and scored 110 runs at an average of 22. He would be determined to enhance his performance against the Proteas and lead India to victory with his exceptional captaincy and batting skills.
3. Sanju Samson
Sanju Samson’s position in the team has been a topic of discussion lately, with some questioning his exclusion from the ODI World Cup 2023 as well. However, during South Africa’s previous tour of India, Sanju showcased his skills by scoring 118 runs in three matches with an impressive strike rate of 114.56. He would be eager to prove his worth and secure his spot in the team with a dominant performance in this series.
2. Kuldeep Yadav
Since adjusting his bowling run-up, Kuldeep Yadav has displayed noticeable improvements in his performance. Despite this, his underwhelming performance during the ICC ODI World Cup 2023 had a significant impact on India’s chances in the final, where many had hoped he would take crucial wickets in the middle overs. As such, he is determined to make a meaningful contribution with the ball in the upcoming series to secure a win for India. In his previous 11 ODIs against the Proteas, he has taken an impressive 26 wickets at an average of 15.19.
1. Yuzvendra Chahal
Yuzi Chahal was one of the players almost certain to make it to the ICC ODI World Cup 2023 team, but he was excluded surprisingly. This decision caught everyone’s attention. Now, as it seems the team management has started looking for other options in the white-ball format, Chahal would be eager to give a strong performance here and make a case for himself. He has played 10 matches against the Proteas and has taken 22 wickets at an average of 20.90.
