India vs South Africa | 5th ODI Preview, Match Predictions, Weather, Line-ups, Live Streaming, Press Conferences

Preview:

The series is still tilted heavily in India’s favour and with two more opportunities available to seal the deal, India are in a better position to complete that unprecedented bilateral series win in South Africa. However, if there was anything to worry about the visitors, the Wanderers ODI brought the faults in their full-proof ODI methods to the fore. On the day, the top-order fails to get going, the middle-order has proved to be the weak spot in India’s armoury. Even experienced personnel like Ajinkya Rahane and MS Dhoni are still not being able to find a way to overcome their shortcomings and that may become a matter of worry for the team.

South Africa, on the other hand, have received a boost in the middle-overs in the last ODI. While AB de Villiers tested Yuzvendra Chahal's flighting ability, Heinrich Klaasen picked his scoring areas methodically in such a way that the hosts will no longer expect easy spoils today. If the South Africans can push the series into the last game, India will feel the pressure. 

Who Said What

"We want more finishers, we want to train and groom more finishers. At the same time, we also want our 5,6,7 to be able to go in and learn the situation and adapt to it. That is why you see the rotation, but very soon I think we'll be settling into a fixed 5,6,7 as we get closer to the World Cup." - R. Sridhar

Read the full report here.

"It would be really nice to expose their middle order and hopefully see what they can do. At the same time we don't want to really look too forward. We still want to focus on the small things that we can do, execute your skills and worry about one ball at a time." - Andile Phehlukwayo.

Read the full report here.

Match Prediction

Betting Odds - South Africa to win 1/1; India to win 10/11

Predicted XI

India: Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli (c), Ajinkya Rahane, Shreyas Iyer, MS Dhoni (wk), Hardik Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah

South Africa: Hashim Amla, Aiden Markram (c), JP Duminy, AB de Villiers, David Miller, Heinrich Klaasen (wk), Chris Morris, Andile Phehlukwayo, Kagiso Rabada, Morne Morkel, Imran Tahir

Playing XI: 

India (Playing XI): Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli(c), Ajinkya Rahane, Shreyas Iyer, MS Dhoni(w), Hardik Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal, Jasprit Bumrah

South Africa (Playing XI): Aiden Markram(c), Hashim Amla, Jean-Paul Duminy, AB de Villiers, David Miller, Heinrich Klaasen(w), Andile Phehlukwayo, Kagiso Rabada, Lungisani Ngidi, Morne Morkel, Tabraiz Shamsi

Pitch conditions: 

St. George's Park in Port Elizabeth has always made the life miserable for batsmen and for starters, the last two ODIs have produced totals of 181 and 167. In the last domestic One-day cup this season, left-arm spinner JJ Smuts and Imran Tahir were the chief wicket-takers. Although there was a little layer of grass available on the match eve which meant to aid bounce and carry for the bowlers, the pitch is traditionally known for its slow and low nature and that’s why India's wrist spinners could once again fancy their chances after a rude shake-up at the Wanderers.

Weather Update:

On the eve of the match, Port Elizabeth provided an overcast and windy condition and according to the weather website accuweather.com, it is expected to rain in the afternoon.

Where: 

St. George's Park, Port Elizabeth

When: 

South Africa vs India, 5th ODI, February 13, 13:00 Local, 16:30 IST

TV Listings:

Sony Ten 1, Sony Ten 1 HD, Sony Ten 3, Sony Ten 3 HD

Live Streams: 

SonyLiv, Espn.in (for Indian sub-continent only)