Preview, Ist ODI: India aim a strong start against South Africa

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Durban, January 31: Galvanised by the consolatory win in the final Test, India will be aiming for their first bilateral ODI series triumph on South African soil when they take on the Proteas in a six-match series, starting here on Thursday (February 1).

India have previously lost 5-2 in 1992-93, 4-0 in 2006-07, 3-2 in 2010-11 and 2-0 in 2013-14.

They were also part of two triangular series in 1996-97 and 2001-02, featuring Zimbabwe and Kenya respectively, but the Proteas emerged victors on both the occasions.

India's ODI record against South Africa in South Africa is heavily skewered.

In 28 meetings since 1992-93, the Proteas have won 21 matches, while India have only won five.

Such a poor record will not sit well with the current team management that is intent on improving India's all-round showing in overseas conditions.

Additionally, India have a very lopsided ODI record at Durban. In seven ODIs against South Africa at this venue, since 1992-93, they have lost six with one no-result.
No. 1 ranking at stake

Currently, South Africa sit atop the ODI rankings with 120 points while India are second with 119 points.

While the ODI rankings change after every match, a cumulative 4-2 series' win will be enough to help India achieve the No 1 spot.

This should be motivation enough for Virat Kohli and Co., particularly as they will be taking the momentum into this ODI series, having assured themselves of finishing No 1 in the ICC Test rankings by prolonging their unbeaten record at the Wanderers last week.

India also have a proud ODI record to protect. Since losing 4-1 in Australia (January 2016), India haven't lost a single bilateral ODI series, home or away.

In this interim, they have beaten Zimbabwe, New Zealand (twice), England, West Indies, Sri Lanka (twice) and Australia, winning 24 out of 32 bilateral matches.

Their only tournament loss came in the 2017 Champions Trophy (in England), where they lost to Pakistan in the final.

As such, the team management will be relying on optimal selection to get this six-match series off to a good start.

With the return of Kohli after missing the ODIs/T20I series against Sri Lanka in December, there is only one middle-order spot to be decided.

Shreyas Iyer gave a good account of himself, scoring two half-centuries in three matches against Sri Lanka, and is a front-runner for the job. But experience could be of greater value herein, with Dinesh Karthik and Manish Pandey also in the running.
Rain forecast

On Wednesday, the pitch bore a brownish look ahead of the game, in keeping with the rainfall Durban has received of late.

Showers are forecast for Thursday's game as well. It might have a bearing on how many spinners India go in with.

If the visitors play only a lone spinner, chinaman Kuldeep Yadav could get the nod ahead of both Axar Patel and Yuzvendra Chahal, to counter the threat of big-hitting left-handers David Miller and JP Duminy in the middle-order.
Only one spinner would also mean that Kedar Jadhav is assured of a starting spot, thanks to his part-time bowling.

Teams: India: Virat Kohli (capt), Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane, Shreyas Iyer, Manish Pandey, Dinesh Karthik, Kedar Jadhav, MS Dhoni (wk), Hardik Pandya, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Shardul Thakur.

South Africa: Faf du Plessis (capt), Hashim Amla, Quinton de Kock (wk), JP Duminy, Imran Tahir, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Morne Morkel, Chris Morris, Lungi Ngidi, Andile Phehlukwayo, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Khayelihle Zondo.

Match starts at: 4.30 pm IST

Live on: Sony TEN1 and Live Streaming: Sony LIV