South Africa squad for India ODIs: Proteas balance experience and youth in potent squad

South Africa squad for India ODIs: Proteas balance experience and youth in potent squad

South Africa announced their squads for the upcoming tour of India starting October 2. Having been defeated by hosts Bangladesh in three-match One-Day International (ODI) series a couple of months ago, the Proteas then came back well to beat New Zealand in their backyard. South Africa will be keen to prove that the loss suffered at the hands of the Bangladeshis was a freak incident, and by beating India at home they would like to firmly establish their dominance as excellent tourists. Shiamak Unwalla feels the South Africans have picked a balanced side with both experience and youth for what is sure to be a grueling series. READ: India vs South Africa 2015: South Africa announce squads for Tests, ODIs and T20Is

Batsmen: Led by the indomitable AB de Villiers and backed up by the ever-reliable Hashim Amla and Faf du Plessis, the South African top-order looks good. Quinton de Kock has been in indifferent form in international cricket, but historically has a fondness for Indian bowling. He proved it yet again during South Africa A’s tour of India recently. Rilee Rossouw and David Miller will possibly vie for a spot in the middle-order, with the likes of JP Duminy and Farhaan Behardien making it to the XI as all-rounders.

All-rounders: Without someone like Jacques Kallis or Shaun Pollock in the mix, it is a bit of a stretch to say that South Africa have any all-rounders at all. That being said, Duminy has proven himself more than capable with the ball, and remains an integral part of the middle-order as well. Chris Morris is more of a lower-order basher than a frontline batsman, but can also be counted among the all-rounders. Though Behardien provides another medium-pace option, he is unlikely to be particularly effective in Indian conditions so Morris might get the nod ahead of him. Surprisingly, the two genuine all-rounders in the South African set-up — David Wiese and Ryan McLaren — have been overlooked.

Pace bowlers: In Dale Steyn, Kagiso Rabada, Morne Morkel, and Kyle Abbott, South Africa have an abundance of pacers at their disposal. Given how effective Rabada has been since his debut, he will almost certainly be persisted with, while Steyn’s record will make it hard to keep him out as well. With either one of Morris or Behardien likely to play, it is unlikely that Morkel or Abbott will get a game early in the series unless one of the other players picks up an injury. READ: MS Dhoni vs Virat Kohli: Who should captain India against South Africa in ODIs?

Spinners: Aaron Phangiso and Imran Tahir have been good for South Africa in limited-overs, and will almost certainly play together. Tahir is closing in on 100 ODI wickets, and will be hoping to get to the landmark in the five-match series against India, a team that traditionally does well against leg spinners. The Indian batsmen would not have seen a whole lot of Phangiso, so he could be the x-factor that South Africa need in the middle overs.

South Africa’s ODI squad for India tour: AB de Villiers (c), Hashim Amla, Quinton de Kock (wk), Faf du Plessis, David Miller, Rilee Rossouw, JP Duminy, Farhaan Behardien, Chris Morris, Morne Morkel, Kagiso Rabada, Dale Steyn, Kyle Abbott, Imran Tahir, Aaron Phangiso.

Likely line-up for ODIs: Amla, de Kock (wk), du Plessis, de Villiers (c), Miller/ Rossouw, Duminy, Morris/Behardien, Rabada/ Morkel/ Abbott, Steyn, Tahir, Phangiso.

In conclusion, South Africa have a number of seasoned campaigners in de Villiers, Amla, du Plessis, Duminy, Morkel, and Steyn while they also have young legs in de Kock, Rabada, Rossouw, and Miller. They have put together a well-balanced side that will be tough to beat, even for the hosts India. VIDEO: India vs South Africa 2015 ‘Mahatma Gandhi-Nelson Mandela’ series promo launched by Star Sports

(Shiamak Unwalla, a reporter with CricketCountry, is a self-confessed Sci-Fi geek who loves cricket more than cricketers. His Twitter handle is @ShiamakUnwalla)