Throughout the group stage of the recently-concluded World Cup, both India and South Africa were seen as the teams to beat in the competition. They ended up finishing first and second in the table respectively but both went home empty-handed as Australia beat South Africa in the semi-final and then beat India in the final.
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India took on Australia in a five-match T20I series after the global event, and now travel to South Africa for an all-format tour beginning on December 10. This is the India's first ODI and Test assignment since the World Cup, and the Proteas' first series in any format since the tournament.
'South Africa favourites to win' - Former cricketer Aakash Chopra picks Proteas over India to win ODI series in South Africa
Former India opener-turned pundit Aakash Chopra expressed his thoughts on how the series would pan out when speaking on his YouTube channel. He said,
I don’t see a chance of a clean sweep anywhere. We are not playing a very good team in ODIs and they are also not playing a very good team. However, the conditions will still favour them and they have had a decent World Cup.
I see South Africa as slight favourites in this entire series. I could be completely wrong and I hope I am wrong, but I am seeing a few more matches going in favour of South Africa. It can be 5-3.
Chopra's reference to a 5-3 scoreline is across all three formats (3 T20Is, 3 ODIs and 2 Test matches). India will be without star batters Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma for the ODI series, with KL Rahul named as captain and the likes of Rajat Patidar, Sai Sudharsan and Sanju Samson included.
South Africa's ODI squad also has a few notable exceptions in the form of Quinton de Kock, Gerald Coetzee and Kagiso Rabada, with potential debuts in store for Nandre Burger, Mihlali Mpongwana and Ottniel Baartman.
India last visited South Africa for an ODI series in January 2022. On that occasion, the home side won 3-0, with wins by margins of 31 runs, 7 wickets and 4 runs.
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