South Africa vs India 2018: 3 key battles that can decide the outcome of the ODI series
After a hard-fought Test series, India and South Africa will now lock horns in the 6-match ODI series. Both the teams are evenly matched and a tough competition is expected between the two sides.
Both squads have some of the best ODI players in the world, which promises an exciting duel. There will be some individual battles as well, where players from each side will look to target a specific player from the opposition. We will look at three such battles, the results of which might decide the outcome of the series.
#1 Rohit Sharma vs Morne Morkel
Rohit Sharma and Morne Morkel had a contrasting Test series. Morkel was making a comeback in the side but performed exceedingly well for the home team. On the other hand, Rohit struggled against the swing and the pace of the South African bowlers and lost his place to Ajinkya Rahane in the final Test match.
But Rohit is a completely different batsman in the ODIs. He is a dominating limited overs player and will be looking to attack from the very beginning. Morkel uses his height to good effect and looks to bounce-out the batsman, while Rohit does not mind playing the hook or the pull shots. It is going to be intriguing to see what plans and strategies Morkel can come up with to dismiss Rohit early in the innings, because once the batsman is set, he can change the course of the match in a few overs.