We have opted for a fantasy cricket team based on the recent performances, overall impact, and credit points.
Pitch Report
1st innings average score: 261
2nd innings average score: 198
Type: Good for batting with enough turn for spinners.
Teams
Probable XI for India: Shikhar Dhawan (c), Shubman Gill, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Shreyas Iyer, Ishan Kishan, Sanju Samson (wk), Shardul Thakur, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravi Bishnoi, Mohammed Siraj, Avesh Khan
Probable XI for South Africa: Janneman Malan, Quinton de Kock (wk), Temba Bavuma (c), Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Wayne Parnell, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada/Anrich Nortje, Lungi Ngidi, Tabraiz Shamsi
Game Changers
With two important wickets and a crucial knock of 33 off 31, Shardul Thakur changed the complexion of the game every time he was in action. He, however, likes feeding on the South African bowlers: his last three scores read 50*, 40*, and 33.
Heinrich Klaasen has been toying with India in white-ball cricket, having smashed three fifties. It was his knock of 74* off 65 that not only steadied the innings but also took them to a competitive score.
Smart Picks
Kuldeep Yadav squared up the left-handers and trapped the right-handers with a sharp turn in the opening game – and he did all this with absolute accuracy. To add fuel to the fire, he took a stunning three-wicket haul in his only game at Ranchi.
Sanju Samson was the captain of the Ultimate Team, generating 55.5 points with a knock of 86* off 63. Expect nothing different from him in the upcoming games. He will go all guns blazing right from the word go.
Lungi Ngidi has a reputation for striking at regular intervals and he lived up to it. Two of his three wickets were that of set batters. Against India, he has sniped up 16 wickets in 8 ODIs.
David Miller’s last three scores read 106*, 19*, and 75*. He has been – for the lack of a better word – spectacular this year. He has been equally good against spin and pace.
Power Players
Shreyas Iyer’s scores in his last five ODIs read 80, 54, 63, 44, and 50, featuring in the Ultimate Team in all these games. Both form and fortune have been favouring him in the format of late.
On the tour, Quinton de Kock has registered scores of 1, 69*, 68, and 48. Against India, however, he maintains an excellent record: 1,061 runs at 62 including 6 hundreds.
Shikhar Dhawan has smashed the most runs (1,167) for India since the 2019 World Cup. Against South Africa, he has collected 971 runs at 49, including 3 hundreds and 6 fifties.
It was a rare failure for Shubman Gill. In 2022, he has smashed 453 in 7 ODIs at a stunning average of 91. He won’t take long to make amends.
Fantasy Tip of The Day
The pitch seems like a featherbed for batters, and both teams boast quality hitters. Hence, picking striking bowlers seems like the only way to stay ahead in the fantasy race.