Proteas sweat it out ahead of 1st ODI against India

India will take on South Africa in the first ODI on 1st of February in Durban, followed by the second ODI on 4th in Centurion. You could see Rahane was too good a batsman to give up on. But bouncing back against all odds on a risky Wanderers pitch in the third Test, India went on to register a thumping consolation victory by 63-runs. Technical aspect remains the same.

The former Test player said that the team will try to win the first ODI in order gain confidence and set themselves on top. Du Plessis admitted fatigue has crept in after the hard-fought Test series, which eight of the 14 ODI squad members were part of.

On the series itself, du Plessis expected another tough challenge from India, and said he was looking to his batsmen to take charge against the visiting side’s bowling. De Kock will look to make amends in the ongoing series, lest the axe falls on him before the Australians arrive at their shores.

“Obviously the now is important – we play series to win series”.

Virat Kohli has all the answers for his critics and he stoutly defended his team’s philosophy after India have won their third Test in South Africa in a dramatic manner. Wristspinners can go for six an over but they will pick you three wickets as well, which is eventually the difference in the game. But it is a long series; it is a six-match series. “It’s just our vision on how we progress before the World Cup and we’d rather lose this series than the World Cup”. “But I do feel we are a little bit more focused on two years time”, du Plessis said. “They were very very consistent, and it showed us there is a lot of strength in their bowling department”. The pitch was dubious if not unsafe right from the start of the Test and its character remained more or less same, in a deteriorating state, as South Africa went in to bat on the third afternoon.

“But this Indian team has the names on paper to change that”. The generations have changed. “So it will be a different ball game this time around”, he added. In South Africa, if the coin goes your way- majority of the times you bat first. Kohli, who has had a lot of tough press conferences to deal with in recent weeks, will hope to keep the pumped up celebrations going come Thursday. Since the Champions Trophy in England, we’ve had a great run except for the loss against Pakistan (in the final).

As far as getting runs on the board are concerned, the onus will be on batsmen to deliver the goods. “That is the only spot I can see that needs to be solidified otherwise the team looks pretty balanced”. The 27-year-old Zondo has been a rock in the Dolphins middle order coming in at number five.