India and South Africa will face off in match 37 of the ODI World Cup 2023 at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on November 5.
For Indian stars Virat Kohli and Ravichandran Ashwin, this situation feels familiar, as they were part of the 2011 World Cup-winning squad. Their only loss in 2011 was against South Africa, and they're the sole members of that team in the current squad.
As India prepare for Sunday's match, they must avoid complacency and strive to emulate the unbeaten run of the 2007 Australian team. A win and 16 points would guarantee India's top spot, with one match remaining against the Netherlands.
Despite Indian fans' hopes of avoiding the "Law of Averages," South Africa's powerful batting lineup will test India's formidable pace attack. This promises to be a captivating battle as both teams vie for the top spot in the tournament before the semi-finals.
Unprecedented ticket demand has added excitement to the Eden Gardens match, a pivotal contest determining the group leaders advancing to the semifinals.
South Africa's batting has been in top form in the World Cup, posting imposing scores consistently, including the tournament's highest of 428/5 against Sri Lanka. Quinton de Kock is leading the run-chart with 545 runs from seven matches. However, chasing has been South Africa's weakness, as seen when they were bundled out for 207 by the Netherlands. They also struggled during their 271-run chase against Pakistan.
On the other hand, India have demonstrated its ability to chase and defend effectively, especially with the presence of dew at Eden Gardens.
Indian pacer Mohammed Shami has been a game-changer, stepping up in place of the injured Hardik Pandya. Since joining the team, Shami has taken 14 wickets in three matches at an impressive average of 6.71. His consistency and performance have made a significant impact, enhancing India's pace attack.
The unprecedented ticket demand, the battle between South Africa's powerful batting and India's formidable pace attack, and Shami's exceptional performance are all key factors contributing to the excitement surrounding this World Cup clash.
Shami describes his bowling as straightforward, but his ability to consistently hit Test match lengths and generate late movements has made India's three-pronged pace attack highly lethal. This was evident when they dismissed Sri Lanka for just 55 en route to a record 302-run victory.
Jasprit Bumrah has added a dangerous slower yorker to his bowling repertoire, and Mohammed Siraj has provided excellent support with the new ball. The duo have taken 10 wickets collectively in the powerplay, making India the most economical team in this crucial phase.
Early breakthroughs from Bumrah and Siraj will be crucial, especially against in-form batsmen like Quinton de Kock and Rassie van der Dussen, who have scored six centuries between them in this World Cup.
Another intriguing battle to watch will be between Heinrich Klaasen, known for attacking spin bowling, and India's spin duo of Kuldeep Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja.
On the batting front, Virat Kohli, who has missed out on centuries in previous matches, will be eager to achieve his record-equalling 49th ODI hundred. Meanwhile, Rohit Sharma, known for scoring big centuries at Eden Gardens, will aim to regain form after a modest 4-run performance against Sri Lanka at his home ground.
Squads
India
Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ishan Kishan (wk), Suryakumar Yadav and Prasidh Krishna.
South Africa
Temba Bavuma (c), Gerald Coetzee, Quinton de Kock (wk), Reeza Hendricks, Marco Jansen, Heinrich Klaasen (wk), Andile Phehlukwayo, Keshav Maharaj, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Rassie van der Dussen and Lizaad Williams.
(Powered by AI, Inputs by PTI)
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