Key players to watch out for in IND-SA ODI series
What's the story
Team India is gearing up for the three-match ODI series against South Africa, starting on November 30 in Ranchi. KL Rahul will captain the team as regular skipper Shubman Gill has been ruled out due to a neck injury. Meanwhile, South Africa, having clinched the Test leg of the tour 2-0, will aim to continue their dominant show. Here we look at the players to watch out for in this series.
#1
Can KL Rahul lead from the front?
Rahul, who was once the vice-captain of the Indian team across formats, has led the Men in Blue in 12 ODIs. He now has another chance to prove his leadership credentials. The keeper-batter will also play a vital role in the middle order. Known for his versatility, Rahul averages over 55 while batting at four and five in the format. On home soil, he averages a solid 52.60.
#2
Spotlight will be on Rohit Sharma
Former captain Rohit Sharma was the Player of the Series in India's last ODI assignment, against Australia last month. With Gill being unavailable, the star batter will have added responsibilities at the top of the order. However, his returns against SA are paltry as he averages just 33.58 against them. Notably, he is just three hits away from displacing Pakistan's Shahid Afridi (351) as the batter with the most ODI sixes.
#3
Can Matthew Breetzke continue to shine
Batting sensation Matthew Breetzke has made a terrific start to his ODI career, hammering 50-plus scores in each of his first five outings. His average after nine games stands at a stunning 67.75. The star would want to enhance his numbers even further. Notably, Breetzke has the ability to score runs consistently at a fine strike rate. He can hence give a hard time to Indian bowlers.
#4
Keshav Maharaj is the top-ranked ODI bowler
Expectations are high from Keshav Maharaj as the left-arm spinner is currently the third-ranked bowler in the ODI format. Maharaj can choke the flow of runs in the middle overs besides scalping vital wickets. In 10 ODIs this year, Maharaj has scalped 17 wickets at an average of 27.76. Moreover, his economy rate in Asia comes down to a stunning 4.31 (27 wickets).