India hope to level series while South Africa eye wrap-up

A lot will be on the line as India squares off with South Africa for the second ODI at Boland Park in Paarl. This is a must-win game for the visitors if they are to stay alive in the series after slumping down in meek submission in the first ODI.

The Indian kinks will need a lot more than ironing as the middle-order tumbled in front of the South African bowling. India hardly found its feet in the latter half of the game with Shardul Thakur chipped in with a crucial half-century.

The first and foremost change that India will have to mull over is a change of batting lineup that will allow more batting space for Shreyas Iyer instead of sending him down at five.

Rishabh Pant seemed to exhibit promise but once again, mindless aggression cost him his wicket. Despite the wicket-keeper’s aggression being his major weapon, it has been dampening for his spirits most of the time.

India may even contemplate bringing in Suryakumar Yadav to the fold but that would mean sacrificing either Venkatesh Iyer or Shreyas Iyer from the lineup.

Despite prising out crucial runs with the bat, Shardul Thakur and Bhuvneshwar Kumar may also be replaced with Mohammed Siraj and Deepak Chahar considering the surface as both of these bowlers are able to wring out crucial movement of the ball.

As the battle unfolds at Boland Park, India will be going all guns blazing at the mighty Proteas to keep the series levelled while keeping in mind the necessary changes that are needed to bolster the Indian ranks that seemed shaky in the first contest.

Team news:

There are no visible injuries on each side. South Africa will be going forth with an unchanged lineup mostly considering the unaltered conditions.

India may come up with a couple of changes that may see Shreyas Iyer or Venkatesh Iyer being dropped from the batting lineup to accommodate Suryakumar Yadav. Bhuvneshwar Kumar may have to warm the bench to bring Mohammed Siraj in the fold.

Match details:

India vs South Africa (ODI series, 2nd ODI) 

Venue: Boland Park, Paarl

Date: January 20, 2022 

Time: 2:00 PM IST

Head-to-head:

Matches: 85

India: 35

South Africa: 47

Stats:

In the top eight run-scorers in ODI at Boland Park, barring six South Africans, there are two Indians in the fold namely Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly with 204 and 157 runs respectively.

Sachin Tendulkar is in the second position of gathering the highest runs in an ODI innings after AB De Villiers with 146 against Kenya in 2001 in Paarl.

Anil Kumble is the second highest wicket-taker at Boland Park with 7 wickets from 3 matches at a frugal economy rate of 4.00.

Sachin Tendulkar and Sourav Ganguly hold the record for the highest opening and also the highest-across-any-position partnership at Boland Park that came against Kenya. The duo stitched together a fine 258 runs.

Squads:

India:

KL Rahul (Captain), Jasprit Bumrah (vice-captain), Shikhar Dhawan, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Virat Kohli, Suryakumar Yadav, Shreyas Iyer, Venkatesh Iyer, Rishabh Pant (wicket-keeper), Ishan Kishan (wicket-keeper), Yuzvendra Chahal, R Ashwin, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Deepak Chahar, Prasidh Krishna, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Siraj, Jayant Yadav, Navdeep Saini.

South Africa:

Temba Bavuma (C), Keshav Maharaj (VC), Quinton de Kock, Zubayr Hamza, Marco Jansen, Janneman Malan, Sisanda Magala, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Lungi Ngidi, Wayne Parnell, Andile Phehlukwayo, Dwaine Pretorius, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Rassie van der Dussen, Kyle Verreynne.