The teams with the two best bowling attacks. The teams with the two best-winning percentages in ODIs in 2023. The two teams reigning supreme over the rest in the ICC World Cup 2023. This is the ultimate clash of the titans. It is India taking on South Africa at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata.
India, on the one hand, loves to chase down targets. South Africa, on the other, loves setting up the stage. So, how are the teams going to plan out their attack? Will they play to their strengths after the toss or contemplate a change? The toss was massive.
India won the toss and elected to bat first.
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India have been dominance personified in this tournament. Literally and figuratively. The hosts have absolutely demolished each of their opponents with such ease and secured 7 out of 7 wins, securing themselves the first spot in the semi-finals of the World Cup.
But, the other truth is that South Africa have been the most feared team. The swashbuckling batting order of the Proteas have plundered the bowling attacks of almost every team in the World Cup. Except for their unprecedented collapse against Netherlands, or especially after the collapse, South Africa kicked into another gear securing wins over every major team in the tournament.
ICC World Cup: Schedule | Results | Points Table | Most Runs | Most Wickets
Both teams possess stellar batters in peak form, and bowling attacks who are competing neck-and-neck for the to spot. The expectations are high as the two titans face off in Kolkata today.
Captain’s Comments:
Rohit Sharma (IND): We will bat first. Looks like a good pitch, it wasn’t to do with the pitch, we wanted to challenge ourselves. It’ll be a good game, two teams who have played consistent cricket and have topped the table, will be nice to win and go on top. I love to play over here, not just me, the entire team looks forward to play at this historic ground. We’re playing the same team, don’t think we need to change anything with the way we’ve been playing.
Temba Bavuma (SA): We would have batted first, but now we need to chase, which will be a nice challenge. We know that;s one area where we need to gain more confidence, we’ll have to bat with responsibility. We have been putting on good consistent performances and we’ll look to improve going forward. One change – Shamsi comes in place of Gerald Coetzee.
Playing XIs:
India:
Rohit Sharma(c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul(w), Suryakumar Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj
South Africa:
Quinton de Kock(w), Temba Bavuma(c), Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Tabraiz Shamsi, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi
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