South Africa vs India: Combined Best XI of the ODI series

On the eve of the series, South Africa was speculated as clear favorites owing to their past records against India in the African nation. However, India soared above expectations and thrashed the hosts by a margin of 5-1. The Proteas capitulated alarmingly as India dictated terms to them, something that has been quite surprising to see in the grand scheme of things as far as the Indians are concerned. The hosts, on the other hand, will be hoping to make up for their shortcomings in the upcoming series against Australia. The series has indeed been more or less, one-sided affair. However, the audience has been thoroughly entertained by the two cricketing giants. Nevertheless, there were several outstanding performers from both sides over the course of the series. In our article, we take an insight into the best playing XI of the series. 1. Shikhar Dhawan Shikhar Dhawan of India. (Photo Source: Twitter) Shikhar Dhawan had shown exemplary form throughout the entire duration of the series. The left-handed batsman has taken India off to fliers on several occasions. Subsequently, he helped India storm into the ascendancy from the outset on most occasions. The Delhi cricketer racked up 323 runs in the six games at a staggering average of 64.60, which included a century at Johannesburg and a couple of half-centuries at Centurion and Cape Town respectively. He also emerged as the highest run-scorer of the series owing to his stupendous run of form. 2. Rohit Sharma Rohit Sharma of India. (Photo by Richard Huggard/Gallo Images/Getty Images) Rohit Sharma hasn’t been in the greatest of nicks, yet he has managed to score runs. The Mumbai batsman looked good in patches in the opening four contests, but couldn’t convert his starts into substantial scores. Subsequently, he was heavily criticized for his lackluster performance. However, he stormed back to score his 17th century in ODIs at the Port Elizabeth. The knock enabled India to post a competitive total on the board, which eventually turned out to be a far cry from the Proteas. Sharma managed 170 runs in six games at an average of 28.33. 3. Hashim Amla Hashim Amla. (Photo by MARCO LONGARI/AFP/Getty Images) Hashim Amla has been South Africa’s most reliable cricketers over the years. However, he hasn’t quite been at his best in the recently concluded series. He has succumbed early on almost every occasions. Nevertheless, the Durban-born cricketer emerged as the highest run-scorer of the series. His solitary knock of substance came at the Port Elizabeth when he scored 71 runs and attempted to take the Proteas over the finishing line. However, the knock went in vain and South Africa slumped to a defeat. The opener managed to score 154 runs in six games at an average of 25.66. 4. Virat Kohli (captain) Virat Kohli. (Photo Source: Twitter) Virat Kohli’s rich vein of form has been a thorn in the flesh of many oppositions over the years. The Delhi cricketer has displayed stupendous form in the recently concluded ODI series against South Africa. He also topped the charts of the highest-run scorers in a bilateral ODI series. He racked centuries at Durban, Cape Town, and Centurion respectively. Subsequently, he bagged three Man of the Match awards and eventually was crowned the Player of the Series. The Indian skipper amassed a mammoth 558 runs at an awe-inspiring average of 186. 5. Khaya Zondo Khaya Zondo of South Africa. (Photo Source: Twitter) Khaya Zondo made his international debut in the second ODI at the SuperSport Park in Centurion. South Africa stumbled alarmingly during the game, however, Zondo played a gutsy hand of 25 runs off 45 balls, which included a couple of boundaries. However, his most substantial knock came in the sixth and final ODI at Pretoria. He notched his maiden half-century in One Day Internationals and was the only silver lining in the dark clouds of South Africa’s horrendous show. The Durban-born cricketer scored 96 runs in three games at an average of 32. 6. Heinrich Klaasen (wicket-keeper) Heinrich Klaasen. (Photo by GIANLUIGI GUERCIA/AFP/Getty Images) Heinrich Klaasen was another of those debutants who played for South Africa in the ODI series. He made his debut at Cape Town, however, perished to the guile of Yuzvendra Chahal. Nevertheless, the Pretoria born cricketer played a match-winning knock of 43 runs at the Wanderers in Johannesburg Subsequently, he bagged his maiden Man of the Match award. He also followed it up with another impressive knock of 39 runs at Port Elizabeth. The wicket-keeper batsman scored 110 runs in four games at an average of 36.36 and earned appreciations for an impressive start to his career. 7. Hardik Pandya Hardik Pandya. (Photo Source: Twitter) Hardik Pandya was expected to be a crucial component of India’s lineup, both with bat and ball. However, he wasn’t up to the mark in the early part of the series. Nevertheless, he churned out some crucial overs for the Men in Blue from the fourth game onwards. The all-rounder failed miserably with the willow, however, he tied down the South African batsmen with his medium pace and also notched some vital wickets. The Gujarat player picked only four wickets in the series but conceded runs at a frugal economy rate of 4.90. 8. Kuldeep Yadav Kuldeep Yadav celebrates a wicket. (Photo Source: Twitter) Kuldeep Yadav, India’s chinaman prodigy, had a dream run in the recently concluded ODI series. He bamboozled the South African batsmen and he eventually finished as the highest wicket-taker of the series with 17 wickets in six games at a jaw-dropping economy rate of 4.62. His best bowling figures of 4/23 sparked in the fifth game at Port Elizabeth. He cleaned up South Africa’s middle and lower order and subsequently, his spell fetched India their maiden ODI series victory in the Rainbow nation. He also had a strike-rate and bowling-average of 18 and 13.88 respectively. 9. Yuzvendra Chahal Yuzvendra Chahal celebrates a wicket. (Photo Source: Getty Images) Yuzvendra Chahal bowled exceptionally during the games and was among the primary reasons why India managed to humble the Proteas in their own den. The wrist-spinner managed to rack up 16 wickets in six games and strangled the South African batsmen. He was taken to the cleaners at Johannesburg, but apart from that, the tweaker has been right on the money with his leg-breaks. He notched a five-wicket haul at Centurion and helped India bowl out their opposition for a paltry 118 runs. Thereafter, India traced down the runs and took a 2-0 lead in the series. 10. Lungi Ngidi Lungi Ngidi. (Photo by Sydney Seshibedi/Gallo Images/Getty Images) Lungi Ngidi got under the skins of the Indian batsmen in the Test series. The Durban-born bowler replicated his form in the ODI series and bowled some impressive spells during the series. He played four games in the series and bagged eight wickets to show for his efforts. The pacer also finished as South Africa’s highest wicket-taker in the series. While the other Proteas bowlers struggled to ruffle the Indian batsmen, Lungi was impressive with the leather in hand. His best bowling figures came at Port Elizabeth as he nipped out the likes of Rohit Sharma and MS Dhoni. 11. Jasprit Bumrah Jasprit Bumrah of India celebrates the wicket of Hashim Amla. (Photo by Lee Warren/Gallo Images) Jasprit Bumrah is renowned for his Yorkers and deceptive changes of pace. The fast-bowled did his reputation no harm in the series and emerged as the most frugal bowler in the series with a miserly economy rate of 3.97. Meanwhile, he also picked up eight wickets in the series. The Indian pacer managed to hit immaculate channels and hardly dished out loose deliveries for the South African batsmen to work with. His best bowling figures of 2/24 came at the SuperSport Park in Centurion as he scalped Heinrich Klassen and Imran Tahir.

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South Africa vs India: Combined Best XI of the ODI series

We take a look at the best players from both sides and the best XI.

7. Hardik Pandya

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