On a high after securing a 302-run win over Sri Lanka in their last match, which has helped them confirm a place in the semi-finals of the ODI World Cup 2023, the Indian men’s cricket team will face high-flying South Africa in their eighth match on Sunday (November 5). The top-of-the-table clash is scheduled to take place at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
India is the only team that has qualified for the semi-finals so far, and if Rohit Sharma’s men manage to get the better of the Proteas on Sunday, then they will be guaranteed a No. 1 finish in the points table. However, the match against South Africa is not going to be an easy one. Temba Bavuma’s men are in red-hot form and have won five matches by a margin of more than 100 runs in the ODI World Cup 2023.
They are coming into Sunday’s contest after defeating New Zealand by 190 runs in their last match, but their real test will be against the Indian bowlers, who in their last match dismissed Sri Lanka for just 55 runs in 19.4 overs. Jasprit Bumrah has 15 wickets to his name, whereas Shami has picked up 14 wickets in just three matches.
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Since the place in the semi-finals is already confirmed, for the match against South Africa, India could rest a couple of players who have played in all seven matches so far. Star pacer Bumrah and wicketkeeper-batter KL Rahul could be rested for Sunday’s fixture, and in their place, the likes of Ravichandran Ashwin or Shardul Thakur, and Ishan Kishan could be brought in. Ishan will keep the wickets in the absence of Rahul.
The inclusion of Ashwin or Thakur will allow Bumrah to get some rest after playing seven matches in less than four weeks and, at the same time, will also extend India’s tail. One of the reasons for giving rest to Bumrah is Shami and Siraj’s red-hot form, which has made things difficult for opposition batters.
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India’s likely playing XI against South Africa: Rohit Sharma (C), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan (WK), Suryakumar Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, and Mohammed Siraj
