 The second ODI between India and South Africa will be played at
Gwalior. The Indians lead the series 1-0 by winning the first game at Jaipur,
but the close margin of the victory just says that there is hardly anything to
choose from between the two sides.
India had gone into the game with three frontline bowler strategy, with the
trio of Ravindra Jadeja, Yusuf Pathan and Suresh Raina to fill up the
rest of the overs. In the end it almost backfired as the ninth wicket stand
between two tail-enders in Dale Steyn and Wayne Parnell added 65 runs, which
made the tactic almost untenable for India. That India won in the end was thanks
to Praveen Kumar cool head and a good run-out effected by MS Dhoni.
Click Here to Watch India vs South Africa Live There is a good chance that the Indians may have to revisit this strategy.
Not often will the sides not capitalise on good starts, which included three
South African batsmen getting out in the 20s; Loots Bosman, AB de Villiers and
Herschell Gibbs.
With the middle looking the way it is, the Indians could look at getting in
an extra spinner to counter the South Africans, but who they get rid of from
the batsmen will be an interesting choice. Apart from injuries, Sehwag and Tendulkar
will continue to open the innings, whereas Dinesh Karthik knock would
have insured his slot, as would the rest of them down the order in Kohli, Raina
and Yusuf Pathan - for his all-round skills.
And if this is the case, then the axe could fall on Karthik, who is a wicket-keeper,
and a back-up to MS Dhoni in the eleven. This would allow someone like an Amit
Mishra or an R Ashwin to get into the side, but what remains to be seen is whether
the captain stills thinks that the dew will play its part, or whether the issue
with the dew is a passé.
The South Africans had had a decent match, but the middle order collapse would
worry them. This is their second collapse on tour, including the one at the
Eden Gardens in the first innings. One cannot see too many changes to their
side, but what they will be happy about is that they possess the batsmen, even
down the order to hit the ball fairly well. There is a reasonable chance that
Wayne Parnell could get a promotion up but he will know that it is his
bowling that needs to come out much better if the Proteas have to make a comeback
in the series.
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