India have made one change. Munaf Patel has replaced Piyush Chawla while Johan Botha comes in place of injured Imran Tahir in the South Africa squad.
Pitch Report:
The track appears to be flat and is expected to last the distance. Cracks likely to appear at later stages but all in all, a decent batting strip.
TEAMS
India: SR Tendulkar, V Sehwag, G Gambhir, V Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, MS Dhoni (captain)†, YK Pathan, Harbhajan Singh, Z Khan, A Nehra, MM Patel
South Africa: GC Smith (captain), HM Amla, JH Kallis, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, F du Plessis, MN van Wyk†, RJ Peterson, J Botha, M Morkel, DW Steyn
Star Sports commentators and former Indian players Vijay Dahiya and Vivek Razdan will share their thoughts with you during the match today.
With the ICC Cricket World Cup finally moving towards its business end, the onus will be on captain MS Dhoni to get the ball rolling after Team India’s unconvincing win against minnows Ireland and the Netherlands. The story is not very different for South African skipper Graeme Smith.
A team comprising AB de Villiers, Graeme Smith, Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis and Dale Steyn have failed to live up to their potential so far in the ICC CWC in between carrying on their age-hold habit of “choking” at crucial times.
Graeme Smith, who went out of the set pattern by opening the bowling against England with Robin Petersen - clearly sent a message that the team means business. Unfortunately, for Smith and Company, the South African chase did not put in to the sum of their parts. The star studded batting line-up failed to chase down the modest England total of 171. Graeme Smith did try to put up a brave point after the defeat in Chennai.
“We've handled ourselves in some tough situations over the last few years, I don't think pressure is our weakness," South Africa captain Graeme Smith had said.
The stakes definitely will be no less for the visitors at VCA Stadium in Nagpur. Popularly known as the Orange City, Nagpur – Maharastra’s winter capital, is all set for its most awaited encounter in this ICC Cricket World Cup.
Be it the Dr Ambedkar International Stadium in Sonegaon, to the nearest highway Chai Walas (tea-stalls) from Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium in Jamtha, the talk inadvertently comes to cricket and India’s chances in the ICC Cricket World Cup.
But the man who is carrying all the bulk of expectations looks a bit perturbed by the criticism coming his way from all corners after India’s not so convincing performances so far in the tournament. Dhoni’s claim that that initial plan is to give everyone some practice and try various combinations would be put to an acid test against the South Africa in Nagpur on Saturday.
The real problem for Gary Kirsten and Mahendra Singh Dhoni would be to come up with the right balance. Will R Ashwin finally get a chance to play against the Proteas? Or Will India go with five specialist bowlers?
If we can go by India’s skipper pre-match press conference at Vidarbha Cricket Association Stadium, the answer would be a no.
“As of now, we are playing with four bowlers. Yuvraj, and Yusuf have given us some comfort. 3-1 or 2-2 (referring to three pacer – one spinner theory or two pacer, two spinner theory), whatever, you may say. I prefer being on the safer side rather than experiments,” MS Dhoni said on the eve of the expectedly high octane game against South Africa.
Meanwhile, South Africa too have their share of problems to tackle after Imran Tahir, Proteas’ Pakistan born leg spinner was advised ten days rest for a fractured left thumb. But he will be available for selection on Saturday, the team management said.
Come Saturday and the frenzy won’t be any lesser, when arguably the world’s two best teams battle it out in Nagpur. Dale Steyn vs Sachin Tendulkar, Morne Morkel vs Virender Sehwag and Graeme Smith/ AB de Villiers vs Zaheer Khan simply promises to be a cracker of a contest.
Tighten your seat belts and don’t forget to watch this space as ESPNSTAR.com brings you all the frenzy and action from Nagpur’s VCA Stadium LIVE.
Approaching milestones - India vs South Africa
- Yuvraj Singh, in case of a fifty, would be the third Indian after Navjot Singh Sidhu and Sachin Tendulkar (twice) to register four successive fifty-plus scores at the world cup. Apart from the two Indians, England's Graeme Fowler, Australia's David Boon and South Africa's Graeme Smith have accomplished the said feat.
- Mahendra Singh Dhoni (5892) needs 108 runs to complete his 6,000 runs in ODIs.
- Yuvraj Singh (7848) needs 152 runs to complete his 8000 runs in ODIs.
- Harbhajan Singh (248) requires just two to complete his 250 wickets in ODIs.
- Jacques Kallis (944) needs 56 runs to complete his 1000 runs and to become the second South African to complete 1000 runs at the world cup. Herschelle Gibbs (1067) is the only South African to accomplish the feat.
- Having claimed 18 wickets, Kallis, in case of 56 runs more and two wickets against India, would be the second all-rounder in the history of the world cup to complete the double of 1,000 runs and 20 wickets. Jayasuriya is the only one to accomplish the said double.
- In case of a hundred, Sachin Tendulkar would be the first to register 20 centuries at home in ODIs.
India vs South Africa at the World Cup
South Africa have won both their World Cup games - by 6 wickets at Adelaide on March 15, 1992 and by 4 wickets at Hove on May 15, 1999.
India vs South Africa in ODIs overall
South Africa have won 39 and lost 24 out of 65 played (NR 2) - S.A's winning % 61.90 and India's 38.09.
Last ten between the two countries
India have won six and lost four - winning % 60.00 for India and 40.00 for South Africa.
Last ten between the two countries in India
Won by both teams - five each
Last ten between the two countries in South Africa
South Africa have won eight and lost two.
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