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India will be keen to put the disappointment of the Test series loss behind them when they take on South Africa in a three-match ODI series, which begins on January 19. Several critics opined that India had a golden opportunity to win their maiden Test series in South Africa, but the visitors failed to get their act together despite winning the first game.
India will be led by KL Rahul in the ODIs as the musical chairs with the captaincy post continue. Rohit Sharma was expected to lead the team after Virat Kohli was sacked. But with Rohit unfit, Rahul was elevated to the captaincy, while Jasprit Bumrah was named vice-captain for the series. It remains to be seen how this leadership change will affect team dynamics.
Heading into the latest series, India have played a total of 34 ODIs in the Rainbow Nation, winning 10 and losing 22. The other two games produced no results. The visitors trounced the Proteas 5-1 during their previous visit in 2017-18.
Memorable one-day bowling efforts by Indians in South Africa
In the build-up to the ODI series, we look back at five impressive bowling efforts by the Indians against the Proteas in South Africa.
#5 Shardul Thakur (4/52) - Centurion, 2018
A few years prior to him earning nicknames like ‘Lord’ and ‘Beefy’, pace bowling all-rounder Shardul Thakur claimed 4 for 52 against South Africa in Centurion in February 2018. India won the toss and bowled first in the final ODI of the six-match series and Thakur’s spell went a long way in vindicating the decision.
The innocuous medium-pacer strangled Hashim Amla (10) with a short ball down the leg. He then had the other South African opener, Aiden Markram (24), caught at cover, outfoxing him with a slower off-cutter. Farhaan Behardien (1) became Thakur’s third victim as an upper cut was brilliantly intercepted by Jasprit Bumrah at deep third man. The pacer had his fourth when Andile Phehlukwayo (34) chipped a return catch while attempting to work one on the leg side.
Bumrah and Yuzvendra Chahal also claimed two wickets each as the hosts were bundled out for 204 in 46.5 overs. Indian skipper Kohli then led the chase with a blazing 129* off 96 as the visitors chased down the target in 32.1 overs.
#4 Harbhajan Singh (3/27) - Centurion, 2001
The recently-retired Harbhajan Singh was the man of the match as India defended a modest 234-run target against South Africa in Centurion in October 2001. In the third match of a tri-series, the former off-spinner claimed 3 for 27 as the Proteas were bowled out for 192 in 46.2 overs.
Harbhajan had the set Jacques Kallis caught behind for 29, just went the batter was beginning to look dangerous. Soon after, he sent back all-rounder Nicky Boje for 9, trapping him lbw. Harbhajan also got the wicket of South African captain Shaun Pollock (15) in similar fashion.
Apart from claiming three key scalps, Harbhajan also managed to keep the run rate under check, going at under three an over. Ajit Agarkar, Anil Kumble and Virender Sehwag aided the 'Turbanator', picking up two wickets apiece.
Earlier, Pollock’s five-wicket haul restricted India to a below-par total as Sourav Ganguly’s men batted first after winning the toss. Rahul Dravid top-scored for India with 54 while Yuvraj Singh contributed 42. Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag also chipped in with 30s. But Harbhajan turned a modest total into a match-winning one.
#3 Kuldeep Yadav (4/23) - Cape Town, 2018
Left-arm spinner Kuldeep Yadav claimed 4 for 23 in nine overs as India thumped South Africa by 124 runs in the third ODI of the six-match series in Cape Town in February 2018. The Proteas were set 304 for victory after they sent India into bat upon winning the toss. However, Kuldeep played the starring role with the ball to kill South Africa’s hopes in the chase.
He had the well-set Aiden Markram (32) stumped after beating him in flight. He then returned to run through the lower order. Chris Morris (14) was trapped lbw by one that kept a bit low and Andile Phehlukwayo (3) top-edged a flighted delivery to extra cover. Kuldeep bowled India to victory when Lungi Ngidi (6) missed his slog and was trapped in front of the stumps by a wrong'un.
Yuzvendra Chahal also claimed four wickets, although he was a bit expensive, going for 46 runs, while Jasprit Bumrah ended with two scalps. Earlier, India’s total of 303 for 6 was built around Virat Kohli’s magnificent 160* and Shikhar Dhawan’s 76.
#2 Munaf Patel (4/29) - Johannesburg, 2011
Munaf Patel was India’s surprise hero as the visitors defended a target of 191 by one run in the second ODI of the five-match series in Johannesburg in January 2011. After cleaning up India for 190 in 47.2 overs, South Africa were cruising at 152 for 4 in the chase. However, Munaf came up with one of his most memorable bowling efforts to stun the Proteas.
The tall pacer gave India early hope by sending back opener Hashim Amla (4) with a wonderful delivery that seamed in and found the edge of the prolific batter. His second wicket came in the 33rd over when he bowled Graeme Smith for 77 as the South African captain inside-edged an attempted punch onto the stumps.
At 188 for 8, the hosts looked set to clinch a thriller. However, Morne Morkel (6) kept India in the game by cutting Munaf straight to point. The pacer then sent back Wayne Parnell (12) as he too cut one to point. India pulled off a heist as South Africa choked again. Munaf’s heroics meant Lonwabo Tsotsobe’s effort of 4 for 22, which held India to under 200, went in vain.
#1 Yuzvendra Chahal (5/22) - Centurion, 2018
Leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal bamboozled the South African batting line-up with figures of 5 for 22 in the second ODI of the six-match series in Centurion in February 2018. India elected to field first after winning the toss and Chahal’s brilliance rolled over the Proteas for a paltry 118 in 32.2 overs.
The wily spinner first sent back Quinton de Kock (20) with a short ball that the left-hander hit to deep midwicket. Khaya Zondo (25) then top-edged a slog sweep, while JP Duminy (25) was trapped in front of the stumps with a ball that dipped on him. Morne Morkel (1) failed to read a wrong'un and was out lbw after which Chahal completed his maiden five-fer in ODIs by having Chris Morris (14) caught at deep cover.
Left-arm spinner Kuldeep Yadav also chipped in with three wickets as South Africa’s batters crumbled under pressure. Chasing 119, India romped home to victory by nine wickets in just 20.3 overs. Shikhar Dhawan remained unbeaten on 51 and skipper Kohli on 46.
