India v South Africa, ICC Champions Trophy 2017: A look ahead

Match:India v South Africa
**Group:**Group B
**Date:**Sunday, June 12
**Venue:**The Oval, London

Head2Head in ODIs:

South Africa has the upper hand with 45 wins compared to the 28 wins by India. Its record is overwhelming at home (21-5), while India has a slight advantage in subcontinent conditions (15-13).

Greatest ODI encounter:

The wonderful record South Africa has against India in the 50-over format reflected when the two teams met at the ICC Cricket World Cup, 2011. At 267 for 1 in the 40th over courtesy Sachin Tendulkar’s 111, India looked on course for a massive score. Dale Steyn, however, triggered a remarkable collapse with a five-wicket haul to bowl India out for 296.

Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis and AB de Villiers scored half-centuries to keep South Africa on course but some late wickets gave India a shimmer of hope.

The equation came down to 13 off the last over, when Robin Peterson swiped the runs away easily against Ashish Nehra. It was the only match India lost in that World Cup.

Previous Champions Trophy Encounters:

Sophia Gardens, Cardiff, June 6, 2013
India won by 26 runs
*PoM:*Shikhar Dhawan

After Shikhar Dhawan’s 114 and Ravindra Jadeja’s quick runs at the death, India amassed a huge total of 331. South Africa lost its openers early but kept the chase alive as Peterson and de Villiers scored half-centuries. However, just when they were taking control of the match, India struck back in the middle overs. South Africa never looked in control despite Ryan Mclaren’s unbeaten 61-ball 71 and was bowled out for 305.

R Premadasa Stadium, Colombo, September 25, 2002
India won by 10 runs
PoM: Virender Sehwag

India had posted a decent total of 261 in 50 overs (Shaun Pollock 3-43) thanks to Virender Sehwag’s 59 and Yuvraj Singh’s 62. South Africa started well, getting to 192 for 1 thanks to a strong second-wicket stand between Herschelle Gibbs and Jacques Kallis (97). But once Gibbs retired hurt at 116, Virender Sehwag (3-25) and Harbhajan Singh stamped their authority.

Gymkhana Club Ground, Nairobi, October 13, 2000
India won by 95 runs
PoM: Sourav Ganguly

Sourav Ganguly’s unbeaten 141 helped India put up a strong total of 295 for 6. South Africa’s innings never got going and it folded for 200, Zaheer Khan, Anil Kumble and Sachin Tendulkar all picking up two wickets each.

Key players for each side:

Against a South African side that is packed with quick bowlers, Rohit Sharma will have to be at his best if he wants to make an impact for India. Over the past few years, he has been groomed into a reliable opener who scores big hundreds. With his ability to pull the ball, he will threaten to blaze every short-pitched delivery South Africa bowl. If Rohit gets a big hundred, more often than not, the opposition team gets flattened.

India’s expertise with batting puts immense pressure on all of the South African bowlers to perform. But one bowler who is never unnerved by pressure is **Kagiso Rabada.**After having a wonderful year and a half, Rabada has more or less become South Africa’s go-to bowler in the opening overs. With his ability to swing the ball at pace, he will be looking to trouble the Indian batsmen with the new ball, and is also equally effective in the death.

Key facts:

• South Africa has lost all three of its previous games against India in the Champions Trophy.
• AB de Villiers has an excellent record against India with an average of 53.29 at a strike rate of 111.21. He has six centuries and five half-centuries against it.
• In the nine matches he’s played against India, Quinton de Kock has five centuries at a strike rate of 97.65.
• South Africa’s 438 in Mumbai in October 2015 is the highest total made against India. It was the second instance when three of their batsmen scored centuries.

Best at Champions Trophy:

IndiaJoint winners 2002; winners 2013
South AfricaWinners 1998

India play South Africa in Group B of ICC Champions Trophy 2017 on Sunday, June 11 at Kennington Oval in London. The ticket ballot is now open and you can apply for tickets by clicking on the banner below or going to www.icc-cricket.com/tickets.