IND vs SA 1st ODI: After levelling the three-game T20I series 1-1, Team India and South Africa will lock horns in as many matches ODI series, starting December 17 (Sunday). This will be the first assignment of both sides post their World Cup 2023 campaign in India.
The ODI’s in the present times is of not much relevance. The format is on the brink of getting overshadowed by the T20Is and many other shorter formats. More so, with the T20 World Cup 2024 lined up ahead, the cricket boards would prioritise the shortest format and the ODIs will sink slightly more.
Team India, under Rohit Sharma, had a memorable World Cup 2023 campaign at home. The Men in Blue went on to win 10 games on the bounce and that too comprehensively. However, fate took a sharp turn in the Final, where Australia remained a better team than India.
On the other side, South Africa got derailed in the semi-final against Australia, after doing extremely well in the league stages. They were one of the dangerous sides going in the tournament, with multiple 300+ scores, however, their strength was put to the test by the mighty Australians, who don’t know how to falter in important matches.
Now with some fresh faces in the ODI squad, both teams would look to maximise the opportunities presented to them. Both, South Africa and India, have included a lot of youngsters in the squad. Only a handful of players, who played the 2023 World Cup, from both sides are present in the squad for the ODI series.
The major missings would be the likes of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Mohammad Shami and Jasprit Bumrah among others from the Indian side, while Temba Bavuma, Quinton de Kock, Kagiso Rabada among others from the South African side.
Now let’s take a look at Team India’s predicted playing11 for the first ODI against South Africa.
IND vs SA 1st ODI: Team India’s Predicted Playing11 against South Africa
Team India doesn’t have a settle opening order with the current squad and hence new players will be seen taking up the role. The likes of Ruturaj Gaikwad, Sai Sudarshan and Rajat Patidhar are likely to see the opening duties for the team.
The team will also have the services of Sanju Samson, who has been largely sidelined by the BCCI. However, the glovesman is likely to get decent opportunity in the upcoming ODIs to strengthen his position in the team.
Veteran batter KL Rahul will lead the side in absence of Rohit Sharma, who has been rested. Rahul has informed that he would play a key role in the middle order, besides donning gloves.
The team’s pace attack is all new, the likes of Avesh Khan, Mukesh Chaudhary and Arshdeep Singh are expected to be paried together.
Below is India’s predicted playing11 against South Africa for 1st ODI:
India’s Playing11: Rajat Patidar, Sai Sudharsan/Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (c & wk), Tilak Varma, Sanju Samson, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Mukesh Kumar, Avesh Khan
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