India won the three-match ODI series against South Africa 2-1 despite suffering a heavy defeat in the second game. Here are the five key takeaways from the series.
India has named a relatively young squad for the ODI series, with several senior players rested to prepare for the Tests. They started the series brightly, winning Game 1 by a record margin with 200 pitches remaining.
The second match saw a comeback as South Africa defeated India by eight wickets, but the third match was a close one thanks to Arshdeep Singh’s four wickets. Here are five key takeaways from this series.
South Africa have a new star in Tony de Zorzi
Tony de Sorge was the outstanding South African batsman in the series, scoring his first ODI hundred in the second match, announcing his arrival with 81. The 26-year-old left-handed opening batsman captained the South Africa U19 team at the 2016 U19 World Cup, but made his senior debut earlier this year. In Gukebela, de Sorge patiently scored 119 runs off 122 balls, taking South Africa home in a mediocre chase, but he got off to a fast start in the third match and then consolidated his innings before being replaced in the middle order. The collapse isolated the effort. In him, South Africa has found a young man in whom they can invest heavily in the future.
India’s top order batting reserves are endless
When South Africa got one top batsman, India got two of them. Sai Sudarsan scored his second consecutive half-century in the first two ODIs, while Rajat Patidar, who made his debut in the third match of the series, played a few eye-catching shots before going down. India already has a lot of top-notch batting talent who are struggling to find playing time in a well-rounded squad. Two more of his choices were added in this series: Sudarsan and Patidar. More options are likely to emerge in the coming years.
Arshdeep is a solid ODI prospect
Arshdeep Singh has been indifferent in T20Is recently. At the start of this series, he had played only his three ODIs and he had not taken a single wicket. However, he adapted well to the demands of the format and he got two overs in the first over of the series. After making a name for himself in the IPL and developing into a first-choice T20I bowler, Arshdeep showed that he has a lot to offer and could be a promising ODI player in the future. His four wickets at Paarl were important in India winning the series. India have been looking for a left-arm seamer for ODI cricket for a long time, but their search might have ended with this series.
Nandre Burger is the real deal
Nandru Berger made his debut during the T20I series ahead of the ODIs and grabbed everyone’s attention. He was a large left-handed sailor who could reach speeds of over 90 miles per hour. He was, of course, immediately interested, and he was not disappointed. Through his three ODIs, Berger has taken five wickets at an average of 25.8 and an economy rate of 5.23. He swung the new ball, generated high pace and even managed to earn an IPL contract midway through the series. The last time India toured South Africa, another South African left-hander, Marco Jansen, had announced his entry into international cricket. Now it’s the burger’s turn.
End of the road for Yuzvendra Chahal?
After missing the Asia Cup and World Cup and the subsequent two T20I series, Yuzvendra Chahal was finally selected for the ODIs in South Africa. However, although India rested their main spinner Kuldeep Yadav in the third ODI, he did not feature in a single match. Chahal’s last ODI appearance was in January 2023 and his last T20I appearance was in August. This is likely to be the beginning of the end for Chahal in his ODI career.
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