India have won the toss and have elected to bat first against South Africa in the fourth one-day international at the Bidvest Wanderers in Johannesburg on SaturdaY
One win and two records are on offer for India today in a series they have dominated since the ODI’s began in Durban just eight days ago.
India lead the six-match series 3-0 and need just one more win to clinch their first ever ODI series on South African soil since their first 50-over match back on 7 December 1992 while also looking to end South Africa’s unbeaten status on Pink Day.
The Proteas have not lost a match at this venue since going down by two wickets against Sri Lanka a little more than six years ago, a run that includes victories over Pakistan, India, West Indies, England, Australia and their latest triumph, a seven-wicket walloping of Sri Lanka last year.
The home side have suffered injuries to key players with AB de Villiers having missed the first three games with an injured finger but is expected back in the side today.
Captain Faf du Plessis injured his finger in the first game and will not be seen again for the rest of the Indian tour while wicketkeeper Quinton de Kock missed the last game through injury.
De Kock’s form has been a concern all summer but seemed to be finding his groove in the first game but his absence has given Heinrich Klaasen a chance to grab the limelight.
The talented young Aiden Markram, who took over the captaincy from Du Plessis, has not had the greatest start to his Proteas captaincy but with the likely return of De Villiers, might give the young Titans man a chance to turn his losing streak around.
South Africa might be relying a little too much on De Villiers but the mercurial right-hander has scored 706 runs at this venue at an average of 100.85 which includes three centuries and three half-centuries.
The former Proteas captain will be best remembered for his record-breaking 149 against the West Indies in 2015 when he smashed the fastest ODI century. De Villiers smashed 16 maximums and nine boundaries before being dismissed after 44 deliveries.
Whichever way this match goes, there will be massive celebrations come what may. If India win, they will be the first Indian team to have clinched an ODI series on South African soil but if the Proteas can somehow prevail then perhaps – just perhaps – the home side could storm back and share the spoils.
SOUTH AFRICA: Hashim Amla, Aiden Markram (capt), Jean-Paul Duminy, AB de Villiers, Heinrich Klaasen (wk), David Miller, Chris Morris, Andile Phehlukwayo, Kagiso Rabada, Lungisani Ngidi, Morne Morkel
INDIA: Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli (capt), Ajinkya Rahane, Shreyas Iyer, MS Dhoni (wk), Hardik Pandya, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah
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