India is all set to take on the South Africa in Match 37 of the ICC ODI World Cup 2023 on Sunday, November 5 at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata. Both the teams have a star-studded squad that can change the course of the game with their abilities. India is the favourite to win this encounter against South Africa.
India and South Africa have a fierce rivalry in the format. Both teams have played 90 ODI matches, with India winning 37 games and South Africa winning 50 games so far in the head to head encounters. In this article, we will take a look at the key player battles to watch out for in the match 37 of the ICC ODI World Cup 2023 between India and South Africa.
Also Read: ICC ODI World Cup 2023: India vs South Africa Top 3 Players Expected to Perform in Today Match
Here are three player battles to watch out for during IND vs SA match:
1) Virat Kohli vs Marco Jansen
Although Virat Kohli and Marco Jansen haven’t crossed paths in ODIs, they had a couple of memorable encounters in the IPL. Marco Jansen is South Africa’s leading wicket-taker in the tournament with 16 scalps, consistently claiming at least two wickets per match. Kohli, on the other hand, boasts five scores of 50 or more in the World Cup, including a century against Bangladesh and three 80+ scores against Australia, New Zealand, and Sri Lanka.
2) Rohit Sharma vs Kagiso Rabada
Rohit Sharma has been in sensational form in the ongoing World Cup, amassing 402 runs in seven matches with an impressive average of 57.42 and a strike rate of 119.64. Rabada, with 11 wickets to his name, has been a crucial contributor to South Africa’s cause. These two players have faced each other in 11 ODIs previously, with Rabada dismissing Rohit on four occasions. The Indian skipper has had his share of success as well, accumulating 131 runs off 158 balls faced against Rabada.
3) Kuldeep Yadav vs Heinrich Klaasen
Heinrich Klaasen, one of the finest white-ball strikers globally, has scored 315 runs, including one century and one half-century. His ability to handle spinners, in particular, has been a significant talking point. Kuldeep Yadav, in top form, has taken 10 wickets at an economy rate of 4.40. Both players have a well-matched head-to-head record. In seven innings, Klaasen has scored 77 runs off 62 balls against Kuldeep, with the left-arm spinner dismissing him twice.