New Delhi: Hello and welcome to India.com’s live updates of India vs South Africa 4th ODI, which will take place in Johannesburg. After taking an unassailable 3-0 lead, India will aim for a landmark series triumph. The Virat Kohli-led outfit need just one more win in the six-match series to claim their maiden ODI triumph on South African soil and also cement their place atop the International Cricket Council (ICC) ODI rankings.
India had previously broken into unchartered territory at Newlands when, for the first time since they began touring here in 1992-93, they won three matches in a bilateral ODI engagement in South Africa. The closest India came to win an ODI series in South Africa was in 2010-11, when under Mahendra Singh Dhoni, they shot into a 2-1 lead only to lose the five-match series 3-2.
On the other hand, injury-ravaged South Africa would hope for some AB de Villiers magic to halt the visitors’ charge in the fourth ODI.
Going into the fourth ODI, India’s only concern will be the consecutive failures of opener Rohit Sharma, but not so much that Kohli will tinker with the winning combination in the crucial game. However, despite Rohit’s woes with the willow, the top order comprising Shikhar Dhawan and Kohli came out all guns blazing in the third ODI, with the captain registering his 34th ODI ton to lift his team to a commanding 303 even after the middle order collapsed.
Dhawan too struck a fine half-century to forge a 140-run second wicket stand that laid the foundation at Cape Town.
Despite practicing with local wrist spinners at Newlands, the Proteas’ batting line-up still collapsed against the Indian spin duo, with both Chahal and Kuldeep taking four wickets apiece. Whether this will change on Saturday remains to be seen.
Saturday’s match also holds special significance for the South Africans. It is the ‘Pink ODI’, played for the awareness against breast cancer and for the benefit of those suffering from the disease. It was first held in 2011, and this will be the sixth such occasion.
In fact, the Proteas have never lost when playing in their unique pink jersey and will hope to replicate that in the fourth game.
The hosts will also hope for some respite after de Villiers was, on Thursday, added to their ODI squad for the remaining three matches.
The star batsman missed the first three ODIs owing to a finger injury he had sustained during the third Test. However, Cricket South Africa (CSA) will access de Villiers’ fitness on Friday afternoon — 24 hours before the game — before taking a call on his availability for the match.
If he is fit and available, it is expected that de Villiers will bat at No.3 with Jean-Paul Duminy dropping down to No.4. One of David Miller or Khaya Zondo will make way for him in the playing XI.
The hosts will also expect a solid foundation from the opening duo of Hashim Amla and stand-in skipper Aiden Markram to put pressure on the Indian pace duo of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Jasprit Bumrah. (With Agencies inputs)