Team India has arrived in South Africa for a multi-format series against the hosts, starting December 10 with a 3-match T20I series. It will be followed by as many ODIs before the teams head to the red-ball format. The seniors – Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah – have opted out from the white-ball leg of the tour and the youngsters will step up in their absence. Suryakumar Yadav will continue to lead the side in the 3 T20Is while KL Rahul will don the captain’s hat in the 3-match ODI series.
India and South Africa recently locked horns in the group stage of the ICC ODI World Cup 2023 in Kolkata where Rohit Sharma & Co. thrashed the Proteas by a massive margin of 243 runs. Since India will now face the South Africans in their own backyard, former opening batter Aakash Chopra feels that the men in blue will be dominated by the hosts.
Speaking in his latest YouTube video, Chopra said the conditions will favour South Africa as they have had a decent run in the World Cup.
“I don’t see a chance of a clean sweep anywhere. We are not playing a very good team in ODIs and they are also not playing a very good team. However, the conditions will still favour them and they have had a decent World Cup,” Chopra said while previewing the tour in his YouTube video.
“I see South Africa as slight favourites in this entire series. I could be completely wrong and I hope I am wrong, but I am seeing a few more matches going in favour of South Africa. It can be 5-3,” he added.
A disappointing tour of 2021-22
India’s previous tour of South Africa was a disappointing one as the visitors lost both ODIs and Tests. India lost the 3-match Test series 2-1 despite winning the opening game by 113 runs in Centurion. The ODIs were even more horrendous as the KL Rahul-led side suffered a 4-0 whitewash.
Following the tour, Virat Kohli stepped down as India’s Test captain.
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