ICC World Cup 2019 | India’s Predicted XI for their match against South Africa in Southampton

Openers

Shikhar Dhawan: ICC events and England. The love story can’t get any better as the southpaw would want to make things count in the very first match of the tournament. Don’t be bogged down by his warm-up match failure as he is very capable of proving the doubters wrong when the stage is big and the eyeballs are attracted towards him.

Rohit Sharma: The Indian vice-captain is coming to the tournament on the back of a very middling IPL performance and he couldn’t really get the ground running in the two warm-up games. A depleted South Africa may become the first casualty as the Indian vice-captain looked very intense in the practice session before rain disrupted it.

Middle order

Virat Kohli: India first match of the 2011 World Cup - a Virat Kohli century. India’s first match of the 2015 World Cup - a Virat Kohli century. Well, don’t be surprised if the same thing happens again against a Ngidi and Steyn less South Africa. The calm and composed Kohli that was on show in the pre-match press conference today may become the perfect prelude to the ever-evolving gigantic presence on the field.

KL Rahul: Vijay Shankar had eyeful of dreams when he boarded the flight to England - even though he had a bad IPL - but Rahul will now become India’s next No.4. The confidence with which Rahul scored a century against Bangladesh in the second warm-up tie ensured the pendulum swiftly move in his direction but he needs to stay on the right track and not take the DK way of warming up in England.

MS Dhoni: In what comes as the epilogue of a colossal career, MS Dhoni will don the India colours and will try to make the most of his new-found confidence through the IPL. Probably, the world’s best limited-overs keeper, his presence in the middle-order will add substance to it, lest a top-order collapse, and he will also have a huge role to play as far as hand-holding the wrist-spinner is concerned.

All-rounders

Kedar Jadhav: The Maharashtra all-rounder is reported fit and the gap between the IPL and the World Cup seemed to have done the trick for him. It is important considering the fact that Jadhav holds a bigger role in the Indian team than just a finisher. With MS Dhoni’s presence, he may have to anchor, if needed, and also roll his arm over in case anyone has an off-day. His multi-dimensional presence will keep South Africa on their toes. 

Hardik Pandya: Remember that brutal Hardik Pandya innings in the 2017 Champions Trophy final, which ended in a losing cause. Well, the scene is not Lord’s this time but the Southampton crowd may see the unfinished business start once again. Pandya seems to be in the zone and can unleash the power-energy tomorrow.

Pacers

Mohammed Shami: He might not have been India’s most successful bowler in the warm-up matches, but then again, warm-up matches are called as warm-up matches for a reason. The intensity was not at the very top but being India’s second choice pacer after Jasprit Bumrah, Shami will up the ante. For inspiration, he may just see the highlight package of his 2015 World Cup journey.

Jasprit Bumrah: All the debate about who is the best pacer in the world will be settled a fair bit as Jasprit Bumrah and Kagiso Rabada will face off in an ODI almost after a year. South Africa are depleted and Rabada is literally their only hope, but Bumrah will have a potent attack around him as India will try to go for the kill.

Spinners

Kuldeep Yadav: From being KKR’s dropped spinner a month ago, Kuldeep Yadav has returned to be India’s prime-time spinner for the World Cup yet again. As Virat Kohli said in the presser today, the wrist-spinner is bowling better than ever and will be a force to be reckoned with, come the match tomorrow.

Yuzvendra Chahal: The leg-spinner had a very good outing against Bangladesh and that should set the tone for the original challenge. He has been very good, and has always seemed unperturbed by the occasion. If he can bring his variations to the fore, well, SA, which had been tangled by his mystery in the past, may have to suffer the worst.

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