India v South Africa Second ODI Tips: Hosts can hit back

India v South Africa
Sunday 9 October, 09:00
TV: Live on BT Sports

Team news

A reserve India team were ponderous in game one in a gettable chase against South Africa. Ruturaj Gaikwad and Ishan Kishan cost them the game with disastrously low strike rates of 45 and 53 resopectively in a reduced-overs contest.

It was left to Shreyas Iyer, Sanju Samson and a cameo from Shardul Thakur to get them close. Smason would have perhaps got them home had he managed to get some strike in the penultimate over.

Probable XI: Dhawan, Gill, Gaikwad, Kishan, Iyer, Samson, Thakur, Kuldeep, Avesh, Bishnoi, Siraj

South Africa rather surprisingly picked Lungi Ngidi and Kagiso Rabada for the first match. That's playing fast and loose with injury risks ahead of the T20 World Cup. Surely at least one of them steps away for Anrich Nortje here. If it were to be both Andile Phehlukwayo or Dwaine Pretorius could come in.

The tourists were indebted to Heinrich Klaasen and David Miller for terrific hitting. They propelled South Africa to 249 after the top order, including the hapless Temba Bavuma, failed again.

Possible XI: Malan, De Kock, Bavuma, Markram, Klaasen, Miller, Parnell, Maharaj, Phehlukwayo, Shamsi, Miller

Pitch report

There have only been five ODI at Ranchi, which is not enough to go on to form an opinion about the surface. The first of those was in 2013 when England were rolled for 155, the last was in 2019 when Australia held on to defend 313.

In T290 there have been only five scores of 160 or more in the last 12, which suggests a bowler-friendly surface. There is no forecast rain. The first-innings runs market is here.

How to play

India are 2.021/1 outsiders with South Africa 1.9720/21. It has been some time that India have been outsiders at home, reserve team or not.

We expect an improved show from India, though and would have them as narrow favourites. Sportsbook, for example, have India as 5/6 jollies.

It is still an impressive line-up and South Africa may have to take Rabada out of the firing line. Bavuma's lack of form is a chronic problem and could cause a slow-down at a key time.

Tops value

Quinton de Kock and Shikhar Dhawan have been boosted to 11/4 and 3/1 respectively for top team bat. De Kock and Dhawan are 9/2 and 4/1 respectively for top match bat. We are still keen on Janne Malan at 16/5 because his win rate is seven in his last 20 on the SA market. He is 11/2 for top match bat.