Batters need to come to the party
NEW DELHI: India's hopes of winning their second ODI series in South Africa will depend on a strong start from the openers in the third and final match in Paarl on Thursday. The first two matches followed a similar plot of a faltering opening combination.
In the Rainbow nation, India's last ODI series victory was in 2018, and they need a strong start from both Ruturaj Gaikwad and B Sai Sudharsan to have another one.
With scores of 55 and 62 in his first two games in the series, Sai Sudharsan has looked good. However, Gaikwad was unable to assist him from the opposite side.
At Johannesburg and Port Elizabeth, India's first-wicket alliance collapsed at 23 and 4, with the right-hander falling for five and four.
On the other hand, South African openers Tony de Zorzi (who made his first century) and Reeza Hendricks killed the chase with a combined 130 runs.
In a similar vein, Tilak Varma, whose career had some early promise, appeared to have petered out in the previous few months.
The powerful left-hander seems to have carried his struggles to South Africa as he battled to reach his best in the home T20I series against Australia. Here, the batter from Hyderabad has not yet reached his best.
India does not have Shreyas Iyer in the middle-order to support the innings, therefore Gaikwad and Varma, unless he is replaced by the uncapped Rajat Patidar for tomorrow's encounter, need to find their range again. For Madhya Pradesh, the 30-year-old Patidar typically bats at No. 4.
After the first one-dayer, Iyer had participated in an inter-squad match to get ready for the next Test series.
The Boland Park surface, which frequently leans towards batsmen, can provide some comfort, nevertheless, for these top order batsmen.
The bounce of the Port Elizabeth pitch was a little inconsistent, especially in the first innings, while the Paarl deck frequently provides true bounce and carry, which allows batters to swing freely and hit with no fear.
It might also nudge the think-tank to give another chance to free-hitting Sanju Samson, who got out for 12 in the last match, and the Kerala cricketer donning the big gloves at Port Elizabeth could be an indication of that.
Prior to the third ODI, India had a minor worry with their bowling unit. Mukesh Kumar needs to put on his hitting armor as soon as possible because he hasn't taken a wicket in his last two games.
After Tony de Zorzi, the Proteas opener, brute forced him through the on-side with powerful hacks, the Bengal player found the going tough.
In the first match, Arshdeep Singh and Avesh Khan performed an impeccable demolition job; in the second match, the former maintained his frugal nature.
To put South Africa off balance, Mukesh must establish a rhythm with the new ball and take a wicket or two early on.
The management of the squad may also consider allowing veteran leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal, whose tour of South Africa ends tomorrow, a match.
He had been playing well lately for Haryana in the Vijay Hazare Trophy.
It is yet to be seen, though, if the management can persuade Axar Patel or Kuldeep Yadav to leave for Chahal.
1/10:India eye runs from top-order in ODI series decider against SA
AFP
2/10:India eye second ODI series win in SA
<p>With the opening combination disappointing in the first 2 games, India's hopes of a second ODI series triumph in South Africa will revolve around a sturdy start from the openers in the third and final game in Paarl on Thursday. <br /></p>AP
3/10:Openers in focus
<p>India's lone ODI series win in the Rainbow nation came in 2018, and for an encore they require a robust beginning from Ruturaj Gaikwad and B Sai Sudharsan as a pair.<br /></p>AP
4/10:Out of form Ruturaj
<p>Sudharsan has been impressive in his two outings, notching up 55 and 62. But Gaikwad could not support him from the other end. The opener fell for 5 and 4 as India's 1st-wicket alliance ended at 23 and four at Johannesburg and Port Elizabeth.<br /></p>AFP
5/10:SA openers among runs
<p>In contrast, South African openers Tony de Zorzi, who cracked his maiden century, and Reeza Hendricks milked 130 runs to kill the chase in the second game.<br /></p>AFP
6/10:Tilak under pressure
<p>Tilak Varma, who showed early promise, seemed to have tapered off a bit in the last couple of months. The left-hander struggled against Australia and the bad form seems to have followed him to South Africa as well. <br /></p>AP
7/10:Ruturaj, Tilak need runs
<p>It is important for Gaikwad and Tilak to rediscover their range because India no longer have Shreyas Iyer in the middle-order to shore up the innings. <br /></p>AFP
8/10:Another chance for Samson
<p>The top order batters can draw some solace from the Boland Park pitch, which often tends to lean towards batsmen. It might also help Sanju Samson, who got out for 12 in the last match, get another chance. <br /></p>AFP
9/10:Mukesh needs to step up
<p>In the bowling department, Mukesh Kumar is yet to pick up a wicket and the pacer needs to slip into his striking armour sooner than later.<br /></p>AFP
10/10:Chahal to get a game?
<p>The team management might also think of giving a match to veteran leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal, whose tour to SA will end on the morrow. He had shown a streak of good form in the recent Vijay Hazare Trophy for Haryana.<br /></p>Getty ImagesThe spin combo of Kuldeep and Axar would like to accrue as much game time as possible to their names as they have both been selected for the Test series.
The left-handed De Zorzi's performance may have given South Africa hope that they would find the perfect, long-term replacement for Quinton de Kock.
The Proteas will be hoping that fast bowler Nandre Burger, who was also very explosive with the new ball, can give the Indians another rough game.
1/10:Sai Sudarshan - India's latest batting sensation
AFP
2/10:International Debut Brilliance
<p>Sai Sudharsan marked a stellar international debut for India in the first ODI against South Africa, smashing a match-winning half-century of 55 off 43 balls in challenging overseas conditions.<br /></p>Reuters
3/10:Composure Against Proteas Bowling
<p>Despite facing a formidable Proteas bowling lineup, Sudharsan displayed composure and skill, showcasing his ability to handle pressure.<br /></p>AFP
4/10:TNPL Success
<p>Sudharsan's journey began with standout performances in the Tamil Nadu Premier League, where he emerged as the second-highest run-scorer in 2021 and continued to excel in the 2022 and 2023 seasons.<br /></p>TOI Sports
5/10:IPL Impact
<p>Recognized for his TNPL success, Sudharsan secured an IPL contract with Gujarat Titans, making an immediate impact with 145 runs in his debut season and further impressing in 2023 with 362 runs, including a memorable 96 in the final.<br /></p>Getty Images
6/10:Ranji Trophy Debut
<p>In his debut season of the 2022-23 Ranji Trophy, Sudharsan showcased his prowess in the longer format, accumulating 572 runs at an average of 47.66, with two centuries and a fifty in 12 innings.<br /></p>TOI Sports
7/10:India 'A' Call-up
<p>Sudharsan earned a maiden call-up to the India 'A' team for the ACC Emerging Teams Asia Cup, where he smashed a century against Pakistan and finished as the fourth-highest run-scorer with a total of 220 runs.<br /></p>AFP
8/10:County Stint with Surrey
<p>Venturing into English conditions, Sudharsan had a successful county stint with Surrey, contributing to their Division One Championship title with valuable game time and impressive performances.<br /></p>Getty Images
9/10:Consistent Records
<p>Sudharsan's overall performance reflects consistency, with prolific records in first-class cricket (843 runs in 12 matches), List-A cricket (1,354 runs in 26 matches), and T20Is (976 runs at an average of 37.53).<br /></p>Reuters
10/10:Fulfillment of India Dream
<p>Expressing gratitude for the journey, Sudharsan emphasized the hard work and dedication that went into realizing his dream of representing India, epitomizing determination and excellence in his cricketing journey.<br /></p>ANISquads:
India: KL Rahul (captain, WK), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Sai Sudharsan, Tilak Varma, Rajat Patidar, Rinku Singh, Shreyas Iyer, Sanju Samson (wk), Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Mukesh Kumar, Avesh Khan, Arshdeep Singh, Akash Deep
South Africa: Aiden Markram (captain), Nandre Burger, Tony de Zorzi, Reeza Hendricks, Heinrich Klaasen, Keshav Maharaj, David Miller, Mihlali Mpongwana, Wiaan Mulder, Beuran Hendricks. Rassie van der Dussen, Tabraiz Shamsi, Lizaad Williams, Kyle Verreynne
(With PTI inputs)
