India vs South Africa, 1st ODI, Dharamsala: Preview, likely XIs, prediction

Two teams at contrasting stages in their ODI evolution will clash in Dharamsala on Thursday when India take on South Africa in the first ODI of their three-match series.

India are the No.2-ranked side in ODIs, possess the highest-ranked batsman in the format in captain Virat Kohli, and reached the semi-finals of last year’s World Cup. South Africa are at the other end of the spectrum, under a new captain, with a relatively new coaching set-up after an overhaul, and are just about finding their feet.

Despite those obvious differences, the two teams come into the series on the back of vastly differing form. India were swept in New Zealand, their best players suffering curious dips in form, their youngsters failing to light things up. South Africa, meanwhile, swept a strong Australia side 3-0, despite their captain – their best player over the last few months – not performing to expectations.

It all makes this upcoming series one to look out for. India will return to comfortable and familiar home conditions, where the likes of Kohli and paceman Jasprit Bumrah will look to return to form. They have a good record against South Africa – having beaten them convincingly on tour in their last bilateral clash in 2018 – and Hardik Pandya, the much-vaunted crucial cog in the Indian machine, has recovered fitness and is back in the side.

The balance Pandya provides to the line-up has been said to be key to the way India play, and a lot of the poor form over the last few weeks have been put down to his absence. All eyes will be on whether his return sparks a revival.

South Africa themselves will be focussed on Faf du Plessis. The former captain was rested for the ODIs against Australia, and the impression is he’s not as important to the side as he used to be, especially with youngsters doing well in his absence. However, coach Mark Boucher has been at pains to stress the importance of his experience of Indian conditions, and it remains to be seen whether he can make all that count.

Head to head

Overall, India have an inferior head-to-head record against South Africa. In 84 matches, India have won 35, while South Africa have been victorious in 46 of those matches. India hold the upper hand over the last five years though, with nine wins in 13 matches.

Key players

Jasprit Bumrah (India): Bumrah showed signs of something resembling his usual high standards during the last two days of the Christchurch Test. His lack of form after his return from injury was a big blow for India, and the hope is that a return home can lead to him finding his best form again.

Lungi Ngidi (South Africa): With Kagiso Rabada continuing to miss out through injury, Lungi Ngidi, who was superb in the ODIs against Australia, will once again be expected to lead South Africa’s attack. He has so far shown no troubles with that at all, and much like Rabada did in India in 2015-16, this could be Ngidi’s making.

Likely XIs

India: Shikhar Dhawan, Prithvi Shaw, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (WK), Manish Pandey, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah

South Africa: Quinton de Kock, Janneman Malan, Faf du Plessis, Jon-Jon Smuts, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Andile Phehlukwayo, Keshav Maharaj, Anrich Nortje, Lungi Ngidi, Beuran Hendricks

Prediction

South Africa will possibly struggle to continue their momentum in different conditions. India to win.