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India Vs South Africa: Here's the Probable India XI for 6th ODI in Centurion

India and South Africa are going to lock horns with each other for one last time in the ODI series. Here's the Probable India XI for the 6th ODI in Centurion.

By Avinash
India Vs South Africa: Here's the Probable India XI for 6th ODI in Centurion

Centurion, Feb 15: Team India would be looking to continue their winning momentum as they come to face South Africa in the final ODI here on Friday (February 16).

6th ODI: Preview</a>; <a href=Stats-Preview" title="6th ODI: Preview; Stats-Preview" />6th ODI: Preview; Stats-Preview

With the series already won, sixth ODI is going to be inconsequential for the Men In Blue and the skipper Virat Kohli had already hinted towards testing the bench in Centurion.

South Africa, on the other hand, would be eager to beat India in the sixth ODI. Victory in the final ODI would not only give them a consolatory win but also boost their morale ahead of the Twenty20I series.

Also, the team management would want to give some rest to some of their players for they have been playing continuously.

Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar have been a part of the side across all formats. Thus, it would be better to give these two some rest.

As India would be involved in a three-match T20I series with the Proteas after ODIs, skipper Kohli would not want to make too many changes to the side and give a chance to the opposition to fight back.

India might be making at least one change in the middle-order to test the bench strength as well. With Manish Pandey and Dinesh Karthik warming the benches, there is a possibility that one amongst these two will get to play in the sixth one-dayer.

Here is the Probable India XI for the 6th ODI:

1. Rohit Sharma

1. Rohit Sharma

The right-handed batsman ended his poor form on the South African soil with a sensational century in the previous ODI.

The right-handed batsman scored a brilliant 126-ball 115 to help India post 274 against the opponents.

The Mumbaikar once again lived up the expectations of the team management and the faith showed in him by skipper Virat Kohli.

The team's second most trusted batsman in the limited-overs had failed terribly in all the four games but came back strongly in Port Elizabeth to hand India a historic win.

Rohit must be eager to bat well again, improve his figures in South Africa further and get into his menacing best before T20I series.

2. Shikhar Dhawan

2. Shikhar Dhawan

The left-handed opener has been in great touch and the centurion in the fourth ODI must be eager to continue his form. He scored an aggressive 34 in the fifth ODI before getting dismissed.

Along with skipper, Kohli, Dhawan has been going all guns blazing which gave the visitors a solid start. It is the good form of the top-order that helped India beat South Africa in four games and clinch the series. The team must be eying another good show from Dhawan in the sixth ODI as well.

3. Virat Kohli

3. Virat Kohli

The skipper and team's batting mainstay has been in ominous form on this tour. Kohli, once again, showed his class and looked in control in the fifth ODI before getting involved in a mix-up with Rohit and getting run out.

The Proteas made every conscious effort to get the wicket of Virat Kohli in the fifth ODI as well, but it was Kohli who himself got him out. The Indian skipper has played a knock of 112, 46*, 160*, 75 and 36 in the series and has already set several records in the series.

The team would once again be relying upon their charismatic skipper in the sixth ODI as they wish to continue their domination over South Africa.

4. Ajinkya Rahane

4. Ajinkya Rahane

The Mumbaikar, who was the biggest positives for the visitors in the first ODI, hasn't been able to replicate his performance in the remaining games.

If he was dismissed due to his own mistakes in the next three games, Rahane was out in an unlucky fashion in the fifth ODI by getting run out in Port Elizabeth.

He could only score 8 before getting run out. Hence, team management would once again be showing their confidence in Rahane so that he can put some runs under his name.

5. Manish Pandey

5. Manish Pandey

Shreyas Iyer played the fourth and fifth ODI but the youngster hasn't been as effective as team management would have expected of him.

It was the fall of wickets and inconsistency of the middle order that prevented India from scoring big in the death overs despite getting off to a blazing start.

Thus, skipper Kohli might opt to rest him and give Karnataka batsman Manish Pandey a chance in the final ODI. Pandey needs to be shown some confidence as the promising youngster had done exceptionally well when he led India A against South Africa, here last year.

6. MS Dhoni

6. MS Dhoni

The veteran wicketkeeper-batsman played an unbeaten knock of 42 in the fifth ODI and took India to 289. A similar situation arose in the previous game as well when Dhoni came in to bat. But the former skipper couldn't finish things for the side the way he's known for.

He's not able to rotate the strike as freely as he once used to do which is hurting the team. But Dhoni definitely going to make it to the side for he's still the finest limited-overs' wicketkeeper.

He will once again be playing in the sixth ODI as he's on the cusp of creating history. Dhoni requires 33 runs to reach the 10000-run mark in the ODIs. He currently has 9967 runs. Sachin Tendulkar, Sourav Ganguly and Rahul Dravid are members of that club from India.

The team management must now ask him to promote up in the order for it gives the 36-year-old an opportunity to spend some time in the middle before shifting his gear.

7. Hardik Pandya

7. Hardik Pandya

The all-rounder will once again be asked to perform his duties as a batting all-rounder in the final ODI. Pandya bowled exceptionally well in the fifth ODI as he got the wickets of JP Duminy and AB de Villiers to bring the hosts back in the game after South Africa came out to chase 275.

Pandya was even promoted ahead of Dhoni in some games here, but he could hardly make any difference. It is his batting that has become a concern for the side, still, the Baroda all-rounder will get a place in the final eleven.

He must be eager to prove his mettle in the final ODI but for that he shouldn't throw his wicket away.

8. Axar Patel

8. Axar Patel

The left-arm spinner has been warming the benches in the series but he might get a chance in the final ODI to play and the skipper might rest Yuzvendra Chahal. Chahal has been very dangerous in the series so far.

But captain Kohli must be looking to test another weapon in the spin arsenal, hence Patel might get a chance on Friday.

9. Kuldeep Yadav/Yuzvendra

9. Kuldeep Yadav/Yuzvendra

The Chinaman picked up 4 wickets in the previous ODI and with 16 wickets, he has therefore emerged as the leading wicket-taker in the series.

He needs three more wickets to become the highest wicket-taker in a bilateral series in ODI history and therefore he might get a preference over Chahal. Also, he has been more economical than Chahal.

His spin-twin Chahal has also been very lethal in the series, but anyone of the two is likely to play in the final ODI.

Both Kuldeep and Chahal have been equally menacing in this series, except for that rare day-off in the fourth ODI in which they went for runs.

If the skipper decides to rest Chahal, then the UP wrist-spinner would get a chance, and vice-versa.

10. Mohammed Shami

10. Mohammed Shami

The senior India pacer was very impressive in the Test series but he hasn't played too many ODI games in the past three years.

The Bengal speedster was therefore not featuring in ODIs, but the skipper must be hoping to give Shami a chance in the final ODI and rest Bhuvneshwar Kumar.

11. Shardul Thakur

11. Shardul Thakur

Just like Bhuvneshwar, Jasprit Bumrah has been leading India's pace attack in the limited overs every game for quite some time.

Hence, skipper Kohli might opt to give some rest to his most lethal bowler ahead of the T20I series.

If Bumrah is rested then young pacer Shardul Thakur might get a chance to play in the final ODI and show what he's capable of on the bouncy pitches of South Africa.

Story first published: Friday, February 16, 2018, 0:17 [IST]
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