Following story was posted prior to the beginning of first ODI at Durban…
The much-improved India over the years especially in the bowling department will be eyeing to improve their ODI record in South Africa as well wherein they conquered the Host just for five times out of previous 28 One Day Internationals (ODIs).
Even in Durban where the opening 50-over match will take place on Thursday, India have yet to register their first victory. Prior to today’s battle, both India and South Africa played six games in Durban, and five of them were won by the latter while one ended without yielding any result.
As indicated above that India have so far delivered substandard performance in South Africa, they haven’t won an ODI series there as yet.
But overall, India’s record against South Africa isn’t that bad as with winning percentage of 39.18, India sealed victory in 29 ODIs out of 45.
The last five-match ODI series between the two Sides was played in India in October 2015 in which South Africa emerged victorious with three wins against two.
Though India also lost the recent Test Series against South Africa 2-1 but after a spirited win over the Host in the final Test at Johannesburg and in the absence of AB de Villiers in first three ODIs, India may see an opportunity to dominate South Africa this time.
For the next six-match ODI series beginning today, Indian former Captain and Wicket-Keeper batsman Mahendra Singh Dhoni has returned to the Side, and he requires just 102 runs to become the 4th Indian batsmen to score 10,000 ODI runs.
If India beat the current top-ranked South Africa in ODI series, they would clinch the first position in ICC ODI Rankings.
Indian Squad for 1st ODI (Possible)
Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli (Captain), Ajinkya Rahane or Manish Pandey, MS Dhoni (Wicket Keeper), Kedar Jadhav, Hardik Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav or Yuzvendra Chahal, Mohammed Shami or Shardul Thakur
South Africa Squad for 1st ODI (Possible)
Hashim Amla, Quinton de Kock (Wicket Keeper), Faf du Plessis (Captain, Aiden Markram, JP Duminy, David Miller, Chris Morris, Andile Phehlukwayo, Kagiso Rabada, Morne Morkel, Imran Tahir
