SA vs IND: ODI series – Top five players to watch out for
After a hard-fought Test series, South Africa face India in a three-match ODI series. The first two ODIs shall be played in Boland Park, Paarl whereas the final ODI will be played at Newlands, Cape Town. The series kicks off on 19th January (Wednesday). India, ranked 4th in the ICC rankings, will be hoping to avenge their Test series loss against the 5th ranked Protea unit. Here are the five players to look out for.
5. Aiden Markram
Aiden Markram would be the player to watch out for in the three-match ODI series as the batter would like to get back into form and contribute for his team. The right-handed batter has scored just three half-centuries in 31 ODI innings to go with zero centuries. Starting as a middle-order batter initially, Markram now opens the innings with Janneman Malan and will like to improve his average of 28.10. The 27-years old has been in great touch in the T20I format for the Proteas and the team will hope for the same from him in the other white-ball format.
4. Wayne Parnell
After making a comeback to the national side from his Kolpak deal in November 2021, Wayne Parnell would be raring to go for his first full series since the Champions Trophy 2017. In 2017, the pacer’s international career looked all but over when he decided to pursue the county game and signed for Worcestershire in the three-year Kolpak deal. But with the system coming to an end, the returning left-arm bowler who is approaching 100 scalps in the 50-overs format, now looks committed and would be the one to watch out for in the ODI series.
3. Shikhar Dhawan
Once an opener in all three formats for India, Shikhar Dhawan now plays only ODIs as the batter lost his place from the Tests and T20I set-up. With an abundance of young talents knocking on the door and waiting in the wings, time is running out for the left-handed batter who endured a torrid time in the Vijay Hazare trophy 2021/22 where he chalked up just 56 runs in five innings with an average of 11.20, which is also his worst average in a VHT season. Spoilt for choices in the opening department, the Indian team would hope for Dhawan to score runs at the top of the order in South Africa.
2. Ruturaj Gaikwad
The highest run-scorer in IPL 2021 and in Vijay Hazare Trophy 2021/22, Ruturaj Gaikwad is one of the hottest properties right now. The winner of the orange cap in IPL 2021, Gaikwad smashed a staggering 635 runs with an average of 45.35 and a strike rate of 136.26 to help CSK lift their fourth title. The 24-years old didn’t stop there as he took the VHT by storm by scoring four centuries in five matches to end the tournament with mind-boggling 603 runs. Yet to make an ODI debut, Gaikwad will be looking to grab the opportunity with both hands now that the regular opener Rohit Sharma is not a part of the squad.
1. Yuzvendra Chahal
Chahal was the second-highest wicket-taker in India’s last series in the rainbow nation in 2018 with 16 wickets, while his spin partner Kuldeep Yadav topped the list for 17 scalps. He had a good Vijay Hazare Trophy where he took 14 wickets in five games at an impressive average of 15.00. Once a regular member in the T20Is and ODIs, the spinner has lost his place in recent times in the limited-overs set-up. The three-match series presents the opportunity for the leggie to prove a point and cement his place permanently again.
