India vs South Africa Preview, ICC Champions Trophy 2017: Teams lock horns in a virtual quarterfinal

One last chance for teams to make things count as any slip-up will result in the exit from Champions Trophy 2017

Both India and South Africa were rated as pre-tournament favourites, but now only one of them will proceed to the semi-finals. It is a knockout time in the ICC Champions Trophy as India, and South Africa go head to head at The Oval in London.

Both these teams won their opening matches comprehensively and looked all set to proceed from Group B. However, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, the least favourites from the pool, had other ideas. While Pakistan stunned South Africa, Sri Lanka outplayed defending champions India. These two results threw the group wide open, and as a result, we will now have two virtual quarter-finals. Also Read- Champions Trophy: AB de Villiers asks team to stay calm ahead of must-win clash against India

It is expected to be a close contest with both teams boasting of solid players. India’s bowling against Sri Lanka looked poor while it was South Africa’s batting that let them down against Pakistan. It is one last chance for teams to make things count as any slip-up will result in the exit.

KEY PLAYERS

Shikhar Dhawan takes his game to the next level when he plays in the Champions Trophy. The same was evident in the last edition when the left-hander smashed two centuries. And this year, Dhawan has a half-century and a century under his belt from two matches. He will be the key man for India.

Against South Africa Dhawan averages 43.22 from nine innings and has two centuries and a fifty to go with it.

For South Africa, it has to be none other than AB de Villiers. The charismatic right-hander has however struggled in this tournament thus far and has managed only four runs, including his career’s first golden duck against Pakistan. Also Read- Champions Trophy 2017: Virat Kohli reveals his team’s mantra ahead of knockout versus South Africa

De Villiers loves Indian bowling and the fact that he averages 53.29 from 28 innings against India makes him the key player for his side. He has six centuries against India, the most versus any nation.

LAST MEETING IN ODIS

The last time these two teams met in an ODI was in Mumbai in October 2015. South Africa crushed India by 214 runs after posting mammoth 438 on board. Quinton de Kock, Fan du Plessis and ABD scored centuries in that game.

AT THE OVAL

This will be the first meeting between these two sides at The Oval. However, in England, India and South Africa have played twice against each other. Both have won one match apiece.

QUOTES

“My take on him (Kohli) is quite simple, really. He’s a world-class player. I know him really well. We’ve played together quite a few years at Bangalore. I respect him even more off the field. Just a good guy with a good heart. I love the way he plays cricket,” South African captain AB de Villiers.

“I actually empathise with him (de Villiers). I go through this a lot, as well. When you have set standards for yourself and then people get shocked. You know, he’s by far the most committed cricketer I’ve ever seen around, and the reason for that was trying to do something extra for his team and that’s the kind of character he’s always been,” Indian captain Virat Kohli.

WEATHER

The weather is expected to remain dry, and it will be sunny during most parts of the day. Rain is forecast for later in the evening after the match.

LIKELY XIs

India: Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli (c), Yuvraj Singh, MS Dhoni (wk), Kedar Jadhav/R Ashwin, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Umesh Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah.

South Africa: Quinton de Kock (wk), Hashim Amla, Faf du Plessis, AB de Villiers (c), David Miller, Jean-Paul Duminy, Wayne Parnell, Chris Morris, Kagiso Rabada, Morne Morkel, Imran Tahir.