5 boxes South Africa need to tick to make a comeback in the series

After winning the Test series, the South Africans have had a horrid run in the limited overs format. The Indian team hasn’t allowed them to create any momentum building forward. The wrist spinners in the form of Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav have completely decimated their batting order. Moreover, it’s the lack of the star batsmen that has been hurting their batting prospects.

With India having gained an unassailable lead, the Proteas still have time to fight back and level the series. They will be looking forward to improvising from their mistakes and turn the tables. For that to happen, the hosts will have to work upon a number of aspects. In light of all this, we mention the boxes that South Africa will have to get ticked in order to create a turnaround.

1) Openers need to fire on all cylinders

Hashim Amla has been a renowned batsman in the limited overs circuit. For someone who averages above 50 in the format, scores of 16, 23 and 1 fail to do justice to his potential. It’s high time that he brings his ‘A’ game to the fore because the hosts have been dearly missing it. If Amla can make his way to a big score, there’s no doubt Proteas would be on top.

In Quinton De Kock’s absence, we witnessed skipper Aiden Markram donning the opening role. While De Kock continued his poor run from the Test series inspite of good starts, Markram too has failed to make much of a difference. The openers need to provide a kickstart to the South African innings in order to put India under any kind of pressure.

2) De Villiers’ immediate impact

There cannot be a better news in the Proteas camp than AB De Villiers marking his return in the Pink ODI. His comeback is subjected to improvise the middle order that has been faltering in his absence. The likes of Khayal Zondo, Markram, David Miller and Chris Morris haven’t been able to create any impact.

With ABD back in the mix, it will surely motivate the batsmen to do well. With South Africa already 3 down, the inclusion of De Villiers is their only chance to stage a dramatic turnaround. The middle order has to come out all guns blazing. JP Duminy at No.3 was a good move and it remains to be seen if the Proteas would persist with it.

3) Playing wrist spinners more cautiously

The wrist spinning duo of Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav have played with South Africa’s misery. They’ve troubled the South African batsmen more than the hackers troubled HBO producers with the leaked Game Of Thrones episodes. Out of the 28 South African wickets that have fallen in the series, the duo has accounted for 21 of those making it almost 3/4th of the tally.

The Proteas would be again looking up to AB De Villiers to counter the spin threat. Many batsmen have been impatient and ended up throwing their wickets. Thus, it will be important for the batsmen to rotate as much strike and avoid losing wickets to them. This may well mount the pressure back on India.

4) Scalp the Indian top order wickets early

While the Proteas bowling attack has succeeded in keeping Rohit Sharma quiet, they have failed to figure out Shikhar Dhawan. Even the lion in Virat Kohli has got roaring and made things difficult for South Africa. The bowlers have failed to do anything magical to get him back to the pavilion early.

It’s a known fact that if Kohli is in the groove, getting him out is almost impossible. If nothing, the last match was a proof that Indian middle order is vulnerable if the top order fails to get going. Hence, if the likes of Kagiso Rabada, Morne Morkel and Andile Phehlukwayo can display their firepower by picking quick wickets upfront, we may well witness a collapse in the midst.

5) Bowlers need to get their act together

While the fast bowlers have failed to do the trick, it’s been the spinners whose performance has been disappointing. Out of the rare 11 Indian wickets that have fallen in the series, only 3 have been picked by spinners. Adding to that, all of them came in the last game. Their best bowler Imran Tahir hasn’t troubled the Indian batsmen.

Phehlukwayo and Rabada will have an early task on their hands to put the Indian batsmen under pressure. Also, it was surprising to see Morne Morkel missing the third ODI. If South Africa are to make an impact, their pace attack needs to get them early wickets. The inclusion of Farhan Behardien should give them more bowling options.

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