India will face South Africa in the last Super Eight match and the outcome will decide which teams will go to the semi-finals from Group 2.
Yesterday, Group 1 line up was decided as hosts Sri Lanka and West Indies progressed to the semis following their wins. It was an exciting day and the temperature will rise as two interesting competitions are lined up today.
The equation is such that any team can make the cut. Australia are sitting pretty with four points from two matches and have a healthy run-rate. They will play in the semis until something dramatic happens.
Pakistan and India are on two points each. If Pakistan win its match today, then India will have to beat South Africa with a pretty good margin to qualify for the last four stage.
If Pakistan lose than a win for India will take them to the semis. South Africa in the meantime will be hoping for a Pakistan’s loss, as if that happens a big win against the Indians will take them to the semis.
Coming to the India-South Africa match, Dhoni’s men will be much more confident ahead of the match than the Proteas. India have been a bit consistent in this tournament. They started off pretty ordinarily against the minnows Afghanistan but had a perfect outing against defending champions England. Then again against Australia they were ordinary but came back ever so strongly to dominate their arch-rivals Pakistan.
There shouldn’t be much change in the squad from the team that played against Pakistan. MS Dhoni will once again walk out with his most favoured option of playing seven batsmen. The ploy worked against Pakistani and there seems to be no reason changing that. India might consider dropping a fast bowler for Harbhajan Singh.
Both Zaheer and Irfan Pathan have been struggling and keeping in mind South Africa’s struggle against spinners in the tournament, Harbhajan looks a better option.
Indian batting will hold the key once again. Indian openers have been a bit scratchy, though both of them have a relatively good innings behind their back and will be hoping to break the shackles. Kohli will be the key member in that batting order, India will be hoping for a strong finish from their late orders if the opportunity presents itself.
AB de Villiers will know that his batsmen will have to deliver if they want to beat India. They struggled in both their Super Eight matches and it is high time they live up to their reputations. The onus will be on Hashim Amla to provide them with a good start. AB himself will have to change his approach and will have to play more freely. JP Duminy is in good form and has finished well for them.
South Africa might bring back Albie Morkel in the squad considering the experience he has playing in IPLs. Their bowling attack does have the fire-power to test the Indian batsmen.
The pitch should assist the spinners, but going by how the tournament has shaped out, it won’t be a surprise if the captain who wins the toss elects to bowl first.
India Squad:
MS Dhoni (c), Gautam Gambhir, , Virat Kohli, Irfan Pathan, Suresh Raina, Virender Sehwag, Rohit Sharma, Manoj Tiwary, Yuvraj Singh, Ravichandran Ashwin, Lakshmipathy Balaji, Piyush Chawla, Ashok Dinda, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan.
South Africa Squad:
A.B. De Villiers (c), Hashim Amla, Farhaan Behardien, Johan Botha, JP Duminy, Francois du Plessis, Jacques Kallis, Richard Levi, Albie Morkel, Morne Morkel, Dale Steyn, Lonwabo Tsotsobe, Justin Ontong, Wayne Parnell, Robin Peterson.
By Indian Sports News Network