Following a harsh reality check in New Zealand, Virat Kohli and his men are back in familiar environs. Backed by vociferous crowds, favourable conditions and pitches, the recently-battered team will look to redeem itself against an in-form South Africa in the three-match ODI series beginning here on Thursday.
Looking to break the five-match losing streak - all three ODIs and both Tests - to New Zealand, India could well turn to its time-tested “spin-to-win” mantra. But that alone is not going to do the trick. The batsmen need to fire to restore confidence in the dressing room.
Indeed, three ODIs in a week will test India’s top-order in the continued absence of an injured Rohit Sharma. The Law of Averages seems to have finally caught up with Kohli. Returning from injury, Shikhar Dhawan is expected to take time to get back to the groove. An impetuous and inexperienced Prithvi Shaw is still a 'work-in-progress'.
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The Pant question
The rays of hope come from K. L. Rahul, Shreyas Iyer and Manish Pandey, who look increasingly hungry to cement their spots in the playing XI. Among these, Rahul now finds himself saddled with the job of keeping wicket, something that his name-sake and fellow Karnataka cricketer Rahul Dravid once did so reluctantly.
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With the team management going back to the idea of a specialist batsman-turned-makeshift keeper in search of the “right balance” or add to the options of playing an additional batsman or a bowler, one cannot help sparing a thought for young Rishabh Pant.
Reduced to a bench-warmer during the three ODIs in New Zealand recently, Pant is going through a crisis of form, and with it, confidence. His understandable lack of self-belief has reflected in his job behind the stumps in the two Tests that followed.
With Kohli and coach Ravi Shastri keen to wipe out the recent unpleasant memories, Pant could still find himself out of favour, probably like Shubman Gill. If the think-tank continues to opt for Rahul as the first-choice keeper, Pant should read the writing on the wall.
Like Pant, Jasprit Bumrah is learning how it feels to become a victim of expectations. Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Hardik Pandya are back from injuries. The spin-duo of Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal are looking to strike in tandem. Navdeep Saini is aiming to resume his run on home-turf.
SA upbeat
In short, this team does not look like an obvious favourite against South Africa, currently riding a high. Not many realise that South Africa is here after maintaining its domination over Australia by winning 11 out of the last 12 ODIs.
The side, that recently whipped Australia 3-0 at home, stands reinforced with the return of former captain Faf du Plessis. Under Quinton de Kock, South Africa is looking to repeat its series-success of 2015 when it last visited India for ODIs and won 3-2.The team looks to du Plessis, de Kock and David Miller for experience in batting. Some exciting talents, bearing unusual names like Jaaneman Malan and Jon-Jon Smuts, will be keen to reinforce the impressions they made against Australia. Fit-again Temba Bavuma, Rassie van der Dussen, Heinrich Klassen are others who can be expected to come good.
In the absence of an injured Kagiso Rabada, the pace attack consists of Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Beuran Hendricks and recent debutant Lutho Sipamla, not to forget seam-bowling all-rounder Andile Phehlukwayo. Test spinner Keshav Maharaj and Smuts provide the slower options. Interestingly, it will be a first for these bowlers to play an ODI in India.
Last September, when the two teams reached this picturesque destination for the opener of the three-match T20 series, heavy rain ensured no play. On Thursday, too, there is forecast for rain. Having learnt from experience, the groundsmen covered every inch of the ground before it started raining around 3 p.m.
Teams (from):
India : Virat Kohli (C), Shikhar Dhawan, Prithvi Shaw, KL Rahul, Manish Pandey, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah, Navdeep Saini, Kuldeep Yadav, Shubman Gill.
South Africa : Quinton de Kock (C), Temba Bavuma, Rassie van der Dussen, Faf du Plessis, Kyle Verreynne, Heinrich Klaasen, Janneman Malan David Miller, Jon-Jon Smuts, Andile Phehlukwayo, Lungi Ngidi, Lutho Sipamla, Beuran Hendricks, Anrich Nortje, George Linde, Keshav Maharaj.
Match starts at 1:30 PM.