After the third ODI (2-1) series lead by South Africa, team India is in a hard situation that it should definitely win the remaining two ODIs to win the series. There are many ups and downs in team India’s performances. The fourth ODI in Chennai is the must-win ODI to level the series 2-2. The South African team have been the better team so far in this series by winning the T20 series and leading 2-1 after the third ODI.
Though it is the home series for India, South African team have been enough experience playing in India during IPL tournaments. Like MS Dhoni himself said, India just haven’t been able to conjure up a complete performance in this Freedom Series, if their batting has come to the party, the bowling has been a letdown, and if the bowlers have done their jobs perfectly, they haven’t been backed up by the batsmen.
The last five games apart from the Kolkata match, team India’s performance was not up to the mark and is still struggling to find the right combination and partnership in the batting order. Dhawan failing to find the middle of his bat, it might be a good idea to rest the left-hander, push Rahane to the top of the order alongside Rohit. Gurkeerat Singh Mann has been on the bench so far in this ODI series, he should be given a chance in fourth ODI.
The bowling has been a lot better for India, but Dhoni will be worried about the impact of the legal problem that Amit Mishra finds himself in. If the leg-spinner is not in the right frame of mind, Dhoni will be better served to keep the player out of the playing XI. All four of their frontline bowlers have stepped up admirably in this series, and it is up to the India batsmen to put the pressure back on them.
Only Rohit has been able to do that consistently so far; so it is up to the rest to take up the mantle, or this Freedom Series will go South Africa’s way in a hurry.
4th ODI schedule: India vs. South Africa.
Date: Thursday, 22 October.
Time: 1.30 pm IST (10 am SAST, 9 am BST, 4 am ET).
Venue: MA Chidambaram Stadium in Chepauk, Chennai.
TV listings:
India: DD National, Star Sports 1, Star Sports 3.
South Africa: SuperSport.
UK: Sky Sports 2.
USA: Willow TV.
Middle-East and North Africa: OSN Play.