Ind Vs SA: A Semifinal Before Semifinal Between Two Very Similar Teams And World Cup Contenders

India would want to come on top of this challenge as well, which it has done over the last seven games. India versus South Africa, that too in Calcutta is going to be big.

Deep Dasgupta writes ahead of the India vs South Africa World Cup 2023 clash.Deep Dasgupta writes ahead of the India vs South Africa World Cup 2023 clash. ( Image Source :ABP Live )

One month into the ICC Cricket World Cup campaign, and thus far only India and South Africa are the two teams who have successfully advanced beyond the league stage — i.e. the ICC Cricket World Cup semifinals. Having asserted their dominance in the seven matches they've played, India and South Africa now square off at the historic Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Sunday, November 5, vying for the distinction of securing the top position on the ICC Cricket World Cup Points Table.

 

India Faces Their Biggest Challenge

 

It seems this is going to be India's biggest challenge so far. And not just India, even for South Africa. India versus South Africa, that too in Kolkata, is going to be a big, big challenge because both the teams obviously have played very good cricket and how they're set up is also very similar. If you look at South Africa, you have got good batting and bowling. They go in with four bowlers, all-rounders, and six batters — same as India in the absence of Hardik Patel. So the combination seems to be the same, the approach seems to be the same. There are a lot of similarities. It's like a reflection of each other, India and South Africa. The Kolkata pitch obviously might be a little on the slower side because it's just the end of the monsoon, which was kind of delayed as well, so that didn't give enough time. Usually, we've seen the Kolkata pitch to be a little quick, pacey, and bouncy. It still would have carried, but would be little on the slower side as we've seen so far in this World Cup.

Chance To Prepare For World Cup Semifinal

The other important thing for Kolkata is it's a venue for one of the semifinals, and it seems like both the teams would qualify for the semifinals, and so one of the semifinals would be at the Edens, and the other in Wankhede. There's a good chance that these teams would have to play the semifinals at this venue in roughly ten days' time or even less. So from that perspective, also, this is going to be a very crucial encounter and a great time to test each other against a top side, an in-form side.

India, South Africa Unlikely To Make Changes In Playing XI

As far as India is concerned, obviously, it's quite unfortunate that Hardik will not be available for the rest of the tournament. He's out of the tournament, which is so, so sad. You can feel for Hardik. We definitely wish him a very, very speedy recovery. But it must be an absolute heartbreak for Hardik himself and for all fans of cricket. It's a big, big heartbreak. But now, in the absence of Hardik, I think India would go back, or rather go ahead with the same strategy or same combination as we've seen in the last few games with obviously three seamers, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Shami, Mohammed Siraj, and then Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav. The same batting order and the same batters. So, I don't see any change in the playing XI. I don't see a change in South Africa's playing XI either.

South Africa's Middle-Order To Challenge Indian Bowlers

South Africa's biggest strength obviously, as far as batting is concerned, is their middle order. That's where I think the middle overs will be very, very crucial. Someone like Kuldeep or Jadeja, their overs between 11 and 40, would be extremely important. And obviously up top you have three Indian bowlers who are in great form. Shami, who's taken 14 wickets in three games. Bumrah, who has made the same kind of impact as skipper Rohit Sharma with the bat, starts off with those initial breakthroughs, sets the tone for the others, puts the opposition on the back foot straight away with his overs up front.

And then Siraj. In the beginning of this tournament, his first spell wasn't very penetrative. But I think from the last game onwards he seems to be back in his elements again. And I think the biggest reflection is him again starting to get that ball to swing away from the right handers. We didn't see much of that in the initial games even though most of those games India had to bowl in the afternoon or in the first half where anyways it was difficult. But it is good to see Siraj amongst not only wickets but bowling at his best again. That's what he did in the last game. 
But the challenge again as far as India is concerned would be obviously Quinton de Kock at the top. And then, most importantly, the power hitters that South Africa have in their middle order and how to contain them and how to get them out.

A 'Big, Big' Challenge For Indian Batters

Like India, obviously, South Africa's bowling is in really good form. Lungi Ngidi may not have taken a lot of wickets, but he's been extremely economical. He, along with Marco Jansen, has built up this partnership which has proven to be very lethal in this World Cup, where Marco Jansen picks up loads of wickets and then Lungi Ngidi keeps it nice and tight from the other end. And then followed by, obviously, Kagiso Rabada and then Gerald Coetzee. And Rabada again seems to be back at close to his peak. He's been a little hot and cold over the last few years. But then in this World Cup, coming at number three, as a first change bowler, he's been able to kind of deliver more often than not for South Africa. 

So, for the Indian batters, it's going to be a big, big challenge. And obviously, November 5 being Virat's birthday, the expectations would be high, obviously. I mean, expectation would be from someone like Virat. The way he's been batting is obviously to carry on with his form, both him and Rohit, but also maybe on the birthday, get to his 49th as well. But I think predominantly or most importantly, it's going to be a really good test. And India would want to come on top of this challenge as well, which it has done over the last seven games.

The writer is a former Team India cricketer who played across formats. He is now one of the most prolific bilingual commentators and cricket show presenters.

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