ICC World Cup 2019 Match 8, India v South Africa: Preview, likely XIs, predictions

After seven matches, six days and most other teams having played two games each in the World Cup, India are set to begin their campaign at the Ageas Bowl, Southampton. While the long layoff period might have afforded the Indians more practice and time off the game, they’ll be up against South Africa, who have already played two matches and by now could be well-acquainted with the English conditions. That South Africa have lost both their games so far – against England and Bangladesh – makes this contest a must-win for the Proteas.

South Africa have never won the World Cup and their chances of winning one received a major blow when they lost to Bangladesh by 21 runs, a game that many expected them to win. They have so far done poorly on both counts – batting and bowling.

Against England in the opening game of the tournament, they were bowled out for 207 chasing 312 and against Bangladesh the bowlers conceded 330 runs that proved out to be too much for a Hashim Amla-less batting line-up.

Amla was rested from the Bangladesh tie as a precautionary move after he was hit by a Jofra Archer bouncer in the first match. There are other injury concerns, too – Dale Steyn is yet to participate in the tournament as he is nursing a shoulder injury and Lungi Ngidi injured his hamstring in the Bangladesh clash and bowled only four overs. While Ngidi is unlikely to play against India, South Africa will hope that at least one of the remaining two key players, if not both, is fit.

India have had their injury concerns as well. Kedar Jadhav didn’t bat in any of the practice matches but has been seen in the nets since, indicating that he’s recovering from a shoulder injury that he sustained during the IPL. Vijay Shankar walked out from a net session ahead of India’s first warm-up tie after an injury to his forearm, but he returned to play in the second warm-up clash against Bangladesh. And the captain Virat Kohli injured his thumb while training on Saturday but he was back in the nets on Monday.

Other than the injury issues, the Indian team looks sorted on most counted. The long-standing issue of finding a suitable No. 4 batsman was resolved to some extent by KL Rahul who scored a century in a warm-up tie batting at four. The top three of Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan and Kohli pick themselves while MS Dhoni, Hardik Pandya and one of Jadhav and Dinesh Karthik are likely to bat in the middle order. Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal make a potent bowling attack.

Head to head

South Africa hold the aces over their opponents having won 46 of the 83 games they have played against India, who have won 34. At the World Cup the teams have met on four occasions and South Africa have won three of those matches. The only win for India at a World Cup came in 2015. The last time these two squared off in ODIs was when India toured South Africa in early 2018. India won the series 5-1.

Key players

Virat Kohli (India): Although he has not been able to convert the starts he got into big scores, Kohli has been the most fluent Indian batsman in England over the past one year. The ICC Cricketer of the Year in 2018, Kohli has already raked up 611 runs at 55.54 this year and the World Cup could well be a career highlight for him.

Kagiso Rabada (South Africa): Rabada is yet to explode at the World Cup but in Steyn’s absence and in a must-win clash against one of the favourites, he is expected to bring his top game to the ground. His pace on helpful English pitches could trouble the batsmen from the subcontinent.

Likely XIs

India: Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli (c), KL Rahul, MS Dhoni (wk), Kedar Jadhav, Hardik Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah.

South Africa: Quinton de Kock (wk), Hashim Amla, Aiden Markram, Faf du Plessis (c), JP Duminy, David Miller, Andile Phehlukwayo, Chris Morris, Kagiso Rabada, Dwaine Pretorius, Imran Tahir.

Prediction

India’s all-round bowling attack restricts South Africa to give the two-time champions their first win.