Zondo, Klaasen and other fringe players need to rise to the challenge in the absence of de Villiers, du Plessis, and de Kock.
Though South Africa secured a win in the Test series against India, they didn’t quite dominate as they were expected to. Since then, the Proteas have fallen behind in the ODI series, facing some tough matches ahead without key players like Faf du Plessis and Quinton de Kock.
AB de Villiers’ return starting from the fourth match will surely boost morale and stability, but cricket is a team sport, and he can’t do it alone. Players such as Khaya Zondo and Farhaan Behardien must step up now. There’s no time for Zondo to just settle in; he needs to deliver impactful performances immediately. Likewise, Behardien has a point to prove and needs to silence his critics this week.
South Africa’s wrist spinners, Tabraiz Shamsi and Imran Tahir, have been outshone by India’s Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav, who have demonstrated exceptional control and the ability to consistently take wickets. South Africa’s spinners need to sharpen their skills both in economy and breakthroughs to stay competitive.
The bold decision to appoint Aiden Markram as ODI captain shows promise and is aligned with chief selector Linda Zondi’s progressive ‘Vision 2019’ strategy. This series of injuries has accelerated the need to strengthen the squad ahead of next year’s World Cup, but South Africa’s selectors seem to have overlooked some talents like Pieter Malan and Reeza Hendricks.
If Pieter Malan isn’t in the picture, then Reeza Hendricks, who is in excellent form, surely deserves another chance at the international level. Even if not for the ODIs, Hendricks should be considered for the T20I match versus India. Heinrich Klaasen is a solid pick who can bat higher up and keep wickets, but one wonders what this means for Mangaliso Mosehle, who appeared next in line.
Now is also the perfect moment for David Miller to assert his place in the team. With three pivotal batsmen sidelined, Miller and JP Duminy become the core strength of the middle order. Their left-handed batting provides a tactical edge against leg-spin bowling, making it tougher for opponents to challenge them.
While India continues to be a formidable force in ODI cricket, the Proteas’ performances so far have been below par. They can still turn things around, but it requires the team to gel quickly and perform consistently. Fans will be hoping to see Hashim Amla blaze a trail by scoring at least two centuries in the remaining matches.
The views expressed here are those of the author personally and don’t necessarily reflect the views of Hollywoodbets.
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