Team India eye winning start to their 2019 World Cup campaign as they take on down South Africa

India will play South Africa on Wednesday in the ongoing 2019 Cricket World Cup as they begin their campaign. Team India go into this game as the favourites.

Date and Time : 10:30 AM (Local), 5th June 2019

Venue : Rose Bowl Cricket Ground, Southampton

India are one of the favourites for the World Cup and they must live up to the tag and defeat a South Africa side that has looked rusty in it’s opening two games. But India will need to play their brand of cricket.

We all know South Africa are a tough side but the loss against Bangladesh means they are vulnerable and India must take full advantage to get their campaign up and running.

In the warm up matches Batting was a problem for India against New Zealand but did well against Bangladesh. Here though a complete batting performance is required from the likes of Rohit, Shikhar and Kohli. While the Bowlers need to do their job.

Jasprit Bumrah and Bhuvneshwar Kumar will be keys in the pace battery and of course Kuldeep and Chahal are spin kings as well as the best fielder in the side in Ravindra Jadeja.

On the other hand, South Africa are too good a side to be in the condition where they are in. They need to up their game and having India as their next opponents spell danger.

The Proteas were well beaten in the World Cup opening game against England but disappointed against Bangladesh. Captain Faf du Plessis needs to take the responsibility and must press for a high total as well gather the team to perform better.

India will not be easy and the Bowlers must do their roles to restrict opponents. Fielding wise also they performed less. So improvements are a must going ahead for South Africa.

India are behind in terms of the ODI head to head against South Africa and they would look to improve upon the fact.

Team news and possible line-ups

Dale Steyn and Hashim Amla are both doubtful for South Africa for their third World Cup game.

As for Team India, Yuzvendra Chahal is available and might play the midweek game.

South Africa XI : F. du Plessis (C), H. Amla, Q. de Kock (WK), A. Markram, R. van der Dussen, Duminy, Morris, Phehlukwayo, Rabada, Steyn, Tahir.

India XI : R. Sharma, S. Dhawan, Kohli (C), KL Rahul, Dhoni (WK), K. Jadhav, H. Pandya, R. Jadeja, Shami, Bumrah, K. Yadav.

Prediction

I expect India to dominate and win this match.