South Africa vs India, SA vs IND 2023, Today Match Prediction 17 December 2023

RSA vs IND Match Prediction & Analysis

After the T20 series honours was shared 1-1, India and South Africa will now try and make the adjustment to a longer format and test their ODI skills and temperament with a test series still to be played.

It’s an interesting juncture in the global cricket cycle to be playing a 3-match ODI series as the larger focus in the cricket circuit has already shifted to T20s. The IPL auction is round the corner, and the SA T20 league is not too far away either.

With a world T20 fast approaching in 6 months’ time, this 3-match ODI series may not matter much in the immediate scheme of things but the road to next world cup clearly begins for both the teams. This series will be considered a springboard for a lot of players, given a few long-term places are up for grabs in both the sides.

RECENT PERFORMANCE

RSA

IND

HEAD TO HEAD

TEAMS PREVIEW

South Africa Preview

Another ODI WC semi-final. Another elimination for the Proteas. Not surprising, is it? But the game moves on. Marking the beginning of a fresh ODI cycle is this exciting 3-match ODI clash with team India, who they beat fair and square a couple of years ago.

Just like India, SA will be handing debut caps with a pool of talented fringe players available to create a mark and make a few spots in the ODI side their own. With Quinton De Kock retiring from ODIs and Temba Bavuma not playing, Reeza Hendricks will likely open the batting with young Tony de Zorzi who impressed in his debut against West Indies. Rassie Van Der Dussen, Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller complete the formidable middle order.

With Marco Jansen and Gerald Coetzee given much-needed rest, Andile Phelukwayo and Wiaan Mulder will step in as the new bowling allrounders. Tabraiz Shamsi will assume spin duties with Keshav Maharaj likely to be rested considering his workload for the test series. Lizaad Williams and one among Nandre Burger, who bowled well in the last T20I, and Ottniel Baartman are the fast bowling options.

South Africa Predicted Playing XI:

Reeza Hendricks, Tony de Zorzi, Rassie Van Der Dussen , Aiden Markram (c), Heinrich Klaasen (wk), David Miller, Andile Phehlukwayo, Wiaan Mulder, Tabraiz Shamsi/Keshav Maharaj, Lizaad Williams, Nandre Burger/Ottniel Baartman.

South Africa Actual Playing XI:

Aiden Markram, Tony de Zorzi, Reeza Hendricks, David Miller, Rassie van der Dussen, Wiaan Mulder, Andile Phehlukwayo, Heinrich Klaasen, Nandre Burger, Keshav Maharaj, Tabraiz Shamsi

India Preview

Team India are getting into ODI cricket mode four weeks after they were shocked rather silenced in front of 90000 people at Ahmedabad by the Aussies.

The senior players have been rested for this series and the new-look squad is full of fresh faces with only 3 players from that ODI world cup squad selected for this showdown against SA namely middle order batsman Shreyas Iyer and KL-Rahul, and left arm chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav. Tamilnadu batsman Sai Sudharsan received his maiden call up to Indian side in any format and Tilak Varma returns to the ODI side after his debut in the Asia Cup before the ODI world cup.

Ruturaj Gaikwad returns to the fray, while Rajat Patidar and Rinku Singh have been given an opportunity to establish themselves in the new middle order. Sanju Samson and Yuzvendra Chahal are back in the reckoning after a long time, while Deepak Chahar, Arshdeep Singh, Mukesh Kumar get an opportunity to establish themselves as a new pace battery. The squad is full of promise and potential but lack experience at the international level, which is particularly important for defeating a quality side like South Africa in their home conditions.

India Predicted Playing XI:

Ruturaj Gaikwad, Sai Sudharsan, Shreyas Iyer, Sanju Samson (wk), KL Rahul (c), Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Arshdeep Singh, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzendra Chahal, Mukesh Kumar.

India Actual Playing XI:

Ruturaj Gaikwad, Sai Sudharsan, Tilak Varma, Shreyas Iyer, Lokesh Rahul, Sanju Samson, Axar Patel, Kuldeep Yadav, Mukesh Kumar, Avesh Khan, Arshdeep Singh

PITCH AND WEATHER CONDITIONS

Weather Conditions

Sunday’s forecast for Johannesburg is not completely clear with a 25% chance of thunderstorm in the afternoon. Barring the odd shower, we might see a full quota of overs being bowled though.

RSA vs IND Pitch Report

The game will be played at the Wanderers, Johannesburg. The venue is at an altitude, so the air here is thin and the ball does tend to travel much quicker. That means, batsmen get full value for their shots, and there should be a lot of pace and bounce for the quicks as well.

Toss: To Bowl

For years, this has been a great venue for chasing. the famous 434 game? Expect the captain winning the toss to put the opposition in. A solid template to win here could be: win toss, ask the opposition to bat first and restrict them to a par total, and chase the runs down with a clear target in sight.