Shikhar Dhawan : Before Rohit Sharma found his groove in the last game, Shikhar was the man who consistently put up impressive numbers in the ODI series in South Africa. In his five innings, he scored 305 runs at an average of 76.25 including two fifties and one century. He scored a hundred in Johannesburg but unfortunately, the team lost the game via the DLS method.
Rohit Sharma : Throughout the series, Rohit was struggling with his form as he managed only 40 runs in the first four games but finally he found his rhythm in the last ODI in Port Elizabeth by scoring a much needed 115 runs. The Mumbai batsman proved skipper Virat Kohli’s trust in him right by holding strike at one end while Dhawan and Kohli scored only 34 and 36 runs respectively in the last ODI.
Virat Kohli : In the whole series between the two countries, the hosts managed only one century and India scored five, three centuries came from the Indian skipper’s bat and one each from Rohit and Dhawan. From the start of the limited-overs series, Kohli knew his role in the middle order considering the Rohit’s terrible run of form as an opener and the captain performed that role as well.
Ajinkya Rahane : Rahane, who got the chance to play the third and last Test of the series, successfully grabbed the opportunity in the ODI game when Kohli introduced him at two down. The Indian skipper called him the best option for the No. 4 position and the Mumbai batsman maintained his trust by playing 79-run knock in the first ODI. But in the last three innings, he failed to repeat that performance which can cost his position from the side if he doesn't perform today.
Shreyas Iyer : In the last two games, despite losing a sixth bowling option, Kohli decided to give chance to Shreyas Iyer in the place of Kedar Jadhav. Iyer, who is not part of the upcoming T20I series, has scored 48 runs in two appearances and can play the last match of the ODI series. He needs to improve his catching abilities though.
MS Dhoni (wk) : While no one can question his place in the side as far as wicket-keeping and tactical ability is concerned, he is not in the best of the form with the bat as he managed 69 runs at an average of 34.50 in five games. India needs him to bring back his form so as to win the series 5-1.
Hardik Pandya : Everyone has been waiting for a good knock from Hardik Pandya, who played a 93-run knock in the opener of the Test series. But in the rest of the series, he failed to found his momentum as he managed only 26 runs in four innings of five ODI matches he played so far but he tried to give crucial breakthroughs in the fifth ODI by claiming JP Duminy and AB de Villiers’s wicket. The Centurion game will give him a chance to prove his worth in the 50-overs format.
Mohammed Shami : Given Bhuvneshwar Kumar has been failed to have a major impact in the ODI series so far and with the all-important T20 series coming up, Kohli might decide to rest him and give Mohammed Shami a shot at a game. Shami, who picked 15 wickets in the Test series, is yet to get a chance in the ODI series and today might just be his day.
Yuzvendra Chahal : Chahal has been making headlines in the ongoing series and alongside Kuldeep Yadav, he is the most effective bowler. It is in same Centurion, he picked a five-wicket haul in the second ODI and will try to repeat it again.
Kuldeep Yadav : South Africa have been struggling to understand his variations and it seems like they will struggle against him yet again, if the SuperSport Park provides the same amount of turn once again today. He has already shown in the series that he has the ability to pick wickets with the wet ball as well.
Shardul Thakur : The 26-year-old Mumbai pacer made his debut in Sri Lanka last year, but couldn't contribute much with the ball. He will be hoping to play in the last match of the series if he gets the chance ahead of Jasprit Bumrah, who is the only Indian bowler to feature in all the matches of the tour so far.
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