India will again depend on Virat Kohli's splendid form and Rohit Sharma's aggressive stroke play as they look to seal a series victory over South Africa in the second ODI here on Wednesday.
A record-extending 52nd ODI century by Virat and a rapid 57 from Rohit paved the way for India's 17-run win in the series opener at Ranchi, where the home bowlers endured a spirited fightback from the Proteas before managing to stop them.
With the 2027 ODI World Cup two years away, Virat and Rohit are not only auditioning every match to prove their fitness and form, but are also reportedly managing growing differences with head coach Gautam Gambhir. The issue has dominated off-field talk and is expected to have the BCCI stepping in at some point.
Having set up two consecutive victories for India, including a nine-wicket hammering of Australia at Sydney in October, Virat and Rohit have shown they will do everything possible to be on that flight to the World Cup in South Africa.
Both the chairman of selectors Ajit Agarkar and Gambhir have remained non-committal about their participation in the World Cup, and that has probably been at the centre of the simmering tensions between the two sides.
However, India have a lot more to worry about despite the opening win. For starters, the combination does not seem perfectly aligned. Ruturaj Gaikwad, who has an impressive record in List A cricket, was pushed from opening to No 4. He did not look completely conditioned for the role with stand-in captain KL Rahul staunchly defending his position at No 6.
Washington Sundar is not new to such experiments as the Tamil Nadu all-rounder, who batted at No. 3 in the Kolkata Test against the Proteas, has seen plenty of changes in his batting positions. But in the first ODI at No. 5, he too was among the batsmen dismissed in a phase where India slowed down.
And again for an all-rounder, Washington also had another light day in terms of bowling as he sent down only three overs for 18 runs. Though Harshit Rana took two wickets upfront with the new ball, his knack of giving away runs later on will require the all-rounder to maintain a good line and length.
Kuldeep Yadav got key wickets for a match haul of 4/68 and even though he was a shade expensive, his variation proved to be the difference as South Africa fell short, but not by a big margin.
South Africa will indeed take a lot of heart from their inspired comeback after being reduced to 11/3 at one stage. On a flat deck, Marco Jansen tore into the Indian bowlers once again for a minute-a-mile half-century (off 26 balls), scoring a strokeful 70 off 39 balls. Matthew Breetzke notched up a fine 72 in his first ODI against India to lead a comeback for South Africa while their long tail, which includes the dangerous Corbin Bosch, threatened to take the game away from India.
South Africa played in the first ODI without their regular skipper Temba Bavuma and Keshav Maharaj, who were both rested after their historic Test series win. Their return will surely bolster the South African squad.
The match will start at 1.30 pm.
Also read: India defend 349, beat South Africa in tense 1st ODI
Follow us
