WhatThe fourth ODI of the five-match Paytm ODI Trophy between India and South Africa
When
Thursday October 22, 2015 13:30 IST (08:00 GMT)
Where
MA Chidambaram Stadium, Chennai, India
The teams
India
In Rajkot, India loosened their fist for a bit and let slip a match that was firmly in their grasp. The bowlers did an exceptional job in restricting South Africa to 270 for 7 on a flat wicket under blazing hot conditions of Rajkot. With 158 runs needed in 27 overs and nine wickets in hand, India looked on course for a comfortable chase. Even when MS Dhoni and Virat Kohli made slow but steady progress with an 80-run partnership, India seemed in control. But the slowing pitch, South Africa’s discipline with the ball and in the field, and lack of contribution from Nos. 5, 6 and 7 took the game away from India.
It is an area of concern for MS Dhoni, which has forced him to re-jig the batting order almost in every game. The biggest impact of this constant shuffling has been on Ajinkya Rahane, who has been floating around in the order from No. 3 to 6. The team management will have to find a solution to this conundrum soon if they are to achieve clarity and consistency. There could be contemplation to give a game to Ambati Rayudu, slotting him at 5 or 6. If that happens, either Suresh Raina or Ajinkya Rahane could miss out. Or, if the captain is keen on letting Raina have a go on his familiar Chennai turf and utilise Rahane at the top of the order, he could rest Shikhar Dhawan. India’s bowling attack is expected to be unchanged.
South Africa
The 2-1 lead in the series will come in handy for the Proteas going into the fourth ODI for various reasons. First, the conditions and slow wicket at the Chepauk Stadium will suit the Indians more than it would them. Secondly, the South Africans will miss the all-round services of JP Duminy, who is out of the remaining ODIs with a hand injury. On a wicket like Chennai, Duminy’s bowling prowess could have proved to be as valuable as his exploits with the bat. His replacement, Dean Elgar, joined the team early morning on Wednesday. The decision facing AB de Villiers would be whether to give Elgar a go right away or bring in Chris Morris to fill up the all-rounder’s slot. Morris has played in Chennai before in the IPL and is a smart exponent of the slower ball.
On the batting front, the Proteas tried the option of sending the out-of-touch David Miller up the order in the last game and he gave them a start with 33 runs. They could continue with him and Quinton de Kock at the top and Hashim Amla at one-down.
Key players
India
Suresh Raina’s bat has been quiet since the start of the South Africa series, and it has been hurting India. In two out of the three ODIs so far, India have failed to finish off the game from a position of comfort. Raina’s scores in those two games: 3 and 0. And that is not a coincidence. It is not to say that he is to be blamed for the losses but to iterate the importance of his contribution to the team’s fate. Once Raina starts scoring runs, it will solve majority of India’s batting-order troubles and give it a settled look. When Raina scores runs, India finish well. On the Chennai wicket, his off-spinners will also come in handy for MS Dhoni.
South Africa
Hashim Amla gave up his opening slot to Miller in the last ODI. Irrespective of whether he returns to the top or continues to bat one-down, he would be the team’s sheet anchor in the spin-friendly conditions of the Chepauk. The fact that he hasn’t got a big score on this tour so far will make him even more determined to fire.
Squads
India: MS Dhoni (capt, wk), Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Suresh Raina, Ambati Rayudu, Stuart Binny, Axar Patel, Gurkeerat Singh Mann, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, R Ashwin, Amit Mishra, Mohit Sharma, S Arvind, Harbhajan Singh.
South Africa: AB de Villiers (capt), Hashim Amla, Faf du Plessis, Quinton de Kock (wk), Dean Elgar, David Miller, Chris Morris, Kyle Abbott, Farhaan Behardien, Aaron Phangiso, Kagiso Rabada, Imran Tahir, Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, Khaya Zondo.
