A rare double in the offing for South Africa as toss and dew in focus in the series decider between India and SA.
Toss, dew in focus as South Africa eye a rare double over the hosts.
During a bilateral tour to South Africa in 2021–2022, India last lost both the Test and ODI series. However, India hasn’t lost a tour series at home since Pakistan defeated them 5-1 in ODIs and 1-0 in Tests in 1986–87.
South Africa has a chance to pull off an uncommon double going into Vishakapatnam. By now, it’s clear that the outcome may depend on a toss. In any case, the use of just one ball from overs 34 to 50 highlights the significant role that dew plays in ODIs in India.
The older, softer ball used by the side bowling in the afternoon is negated by the nighttime dew. Despite being 35 behind India at the 34-over point, when the fielding side gets to select one of the two balls to bowl the remainder of the innings, South Africa won the most recent ODI.
After 20 straight losses, India will be anxious to win one given the high value of the toss. We are already discussing combinations for the upcoming World Cup, and the last time India won an ODI toss was in the World Cup semifinal.
The teams’ only choice will be to make the most of the new ball in the afternoon and aim for a score that is above average for the batting circumstances. Then, in the evening, make the most of the new ball before it stops moving. In Ranchi, India was able to accomplish both of those goals, but in Raipur, only one. It will be interesting to see if South Africa can accomplish both, but India must win the toss in order to do so.
Throughout his career, Virat Kohli has scored 11 consecutive hundreds. One of those has been turned into a hat-trick by him. In a week, three centuries. One of them occurred at his favourite location, Vishakapatnam, where he returned with one Test century and four ODI hundreds. In ODIs, he averages 97.83, which is better than a run per ball. There, he has also amassed 299 Test runs for three dismissals. You won’t want to wager against another hat-trick of ODI hundreds given his current form.