India vs South Africa, India vs South Africa 2020, Today Match Prediction 15 Mar 2020

ind vs sa Match Prediction & Analysis

It was a wet beginning to the India-South Africa series as the first ODI at Dharamsala was washed out without even the toss. Curiously, this is exactly how things had panned out the last time these two sides had met at the venue - back in September 2019 for the start of the T20I series. With only two matches left, it will be doubly hard for both the teams to get a result.

The focus will now shift to the second ODI in Lucknow. South Africa will be waiting to show that they are a new and improved side and cannot be taken lightly anymore. India, meanwhile, will be looking to finish their season on a high, after their disappointing tour to New Zealand.

TEAMS PREVIEW

India Preview

Team India has a lot to correct their performance in ODIs. They were beaten thoroughly in New Zealand and couldn't win a single ODI there. At home, though, they should do better. It will not be easy against a resurgent South African side. However, Team India has had some fresh arsenal in their ranks with the return of Hardik Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Shikhar Dhawan that should certainly bolster the team.

All-rounder Pandya is returning to the fold after nearly six months away due to injury and his role as a finisher will be pivotal. Dhawan's experience at the top will be useful too. All the focus, however, will be on skipper Virat Kohli, who had a poor outing in New Zealand. KL Rahul, Maish Pandey and Shreyas Iyer should do the job in the middle-order.

India's bowling will also get some strength with Bhuvneshwar Kumar's experience. Jasprit Bumrah, along with Navdeep Saini and leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal, will have to take the main responsibility. Bumrah was struggling in New Zealand and it remains to be seen if he finally gets his rhythm back. Chahal, who has always done well against the Proteas, will be eager to bowling against them on this pitch and might prove to be a game-changer.

India Predicted Playing XI:

Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli (c), KL Rahul (wk), Manish Pandey, Shreyas Iyer, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah, Navdeep Saini

South Africa Preview

This South African team is quite different from the one that had landed in India last September. They are coming off a terrific 3-0 ODI series win against Australia at home and will be quite eager to show how much they have changed.

Captain Quinton de Kock is expected to lead from the front. He is in good touch and loves playing against India (784 runs and 5 hundred at an average of 60.30). Then they also have the experience of Faf du Plessis and David Miller, who have played in India many times. The man to watch out for, though, will be Heinrich Klaasen. The hard-hitting batsman is fresh from a maiden ODI ton against Australia and these pitches should favor his style of play.

Where South Africa might struggle is their bowling as they are missing their lead bowler Kagiso Rabada who is out due to injury. Thus, the onus will now fall heavily on Lungi Ngidi, Andile Phehlukwayo and Anrich Nortje. None of them have played an ODI in India before and therefore might find the going tough. A lot will also depend on how spinner Keshav Maharaj manages to make use of this surface.

South Africa Predicted Playing XI:

Quinton de Kock (capt, wk), Temba Bavuma, Faf du Plessis, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Jon-Jon Smuts, Andile Phehlukwayo, Lungi Ngidi, Beuran Hendricks, Anrich Nortje, Keshav Maharaj

PITCH AND WEATHER CONDITIONS

Weather Conditions

The pitch at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium in Lucknow is expected to be a proper Indian surface. It should be great for batting early on but will aid the spinners as the pitch slows down. The ball is expected to grip too in the middle stages. The weather in Lucknow for the day of the match is expected to mostly sunny and clear. We should thus get a full game.

Venue Details

There have been just 3 ODIs played at the Bharat Ratna Shri Atal Bihari Vajpayee Ekana Cricket Stadium at Lucknow and all of them were between Afghanistan and West Indies in 2019. Thus, India too will be playing on this surface for the first time. The highest total achieved here is 253-5 by West Indies against Afghanistan. For this ODI, though, a total of 270-280 by the team batting first would be likely.

Toss: To Bat

The team winning the toss should bat first as the wicket is likely to get slower later on.