A new-look Indian team, led by Shikhar Dhawan, will be hoping to make a statement and be in the reckoning for next year's 50-over World Cup when the three-match ODI series against South Africa begins in Lucknow on Thursday.
Punjab Kings would be keen to put brakes on Lucknow Super Giants skipper KL Rahul's rollicking batting form during their IPL 2022 match on Friday.
Fast bowler Anrich Nortje, wicketkeeper/batsman Rudi Second and spin bowling all-rounder Senuran Muthusamy have been included in the 15-man squad that will be captained by Faf du Plessis.
CSA have however not handed players a final contract
The South Africa series in that context is the last big international T20 series that India play followed by one against Afghanistan in mid-January.
In this World Cup, it won't be a misnomer if KL Rahul gets the DRS moniker in his name and we call it the 'Decision 'Rahul' System'.
India captain K L Rahul attributed the 0-3 drubbing from South Africa in the ODI series to collective failure and said there is no shying away from the fact that the visitors have "gone wrong".
South Africa lost Faf du Plessis and Quinton de Kock among several experienced batters in recent years, leaving Elgar and Temba Bavuma to shoulder a heavy burden.
The hero of the hour was Evin Lewis, who smashed 55 off 23 balls
Though Mankad walked away with the man of the match award, there was no denying that Pandya and Pooran's roles were decisive in the final outcome.
South Africa were in early trouble, after a brief rain delay at the start of play, when Aiden Markham went without scoring in the second over of the day.
IMAGES from the IPL 2022 game between Chennai Super Kings and Lucknow Super Giants, in Mumbai, on Thursday
South Africa's openers have struggled and the skipper said losing Quinton de Kock to injury has affected the team.
Sunrisers Hyderabad need a complete, all-round performance against Lucknow Super Giants in the IPL match on Monday to register their first win of the season.
South Africa are on a four-match winning streak as they face Rohit Sharma's unbeaten side in a top-of-the-table clash at the Eden Gardens
Known for his six-hitting prowess, Hardik this season will have to take more responsibility with the bat and also bat higher up the order.
4 Aussies, 3 Indians, 1 Kiwi, 3 South Africans in Harish Kotian's World Cup 2023 Dream XI.
The board said no replacement will be brought in for Rabada as there is an extended squad in place in the Bio-Secure Environment (BSE), but George Linde has been retained from the Test team as an extra spin-bowling option for the series.
Dean Elgar and Quinton de Kock's showing represented an important turning point for South Africa's relatively inexperienced batting line-up as they head into an important summer that also includes a home Test series against England.
Mumbai Indians skipper Rohit Sharma praised his bowlers for their economy in the last few overs against Rajasthan Royals in the IPL match in Delhi on Thursday.
As Mohammed Shami walked back to the top of his run-up, Virat Kohli geed the fans at the Wankhede Stadium to go full throat with their chants - Shaamii! Shaamii! They obliged merrily.
They got into trouble early on in their reply as they slipped to 87-4, only to cruise to victory thanks to Klaasen's power hitting with an astonishing 123 balls remaining in the innings.
Rahul made 51 not out and Yadav, the world's second-ranked Twenty20 batsman, remained unbeaten on 50 off 33 balls as India romped home with 20 balls to spare.
Kerala's Sanju Samson, 27, was part of the ODI series against Zimbabwe which India won 3-0. He has represented India in seven ODIs and 16 T20Is so far.
South African pace duo Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje joined the Delhi Capitals squad in Mumbai on Tuesday ahead of the upcoming Indian Premier League, starting on April 9.
Images from the rain-curtailed 1st ODI between India and South Africa in Lucknow on Thursday.
India captain Virat Kohli led from the front with an unbeaten 72 to help secure his team's comprehensive seven-wicket victory over South Africa in the second Twenty20 International, in Mohali, on Wednesday.
South Africa beat Sri Lanka by 28 runs at the R Premadasa stadium in Colombo to take a 1-0 lead in the three-match Twenty20 International series, on Friday.
Captain Virat Kohli led India to a resounding seven-wicket win over South Africa in the second T20 International with an unbeaten half-century, in Mohali, on Wednesday.
India seamers Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami took three wickets each as the tourists bowled South Africa out for 191 to claim victory by 113 runs just after lunch on the fifth day of the first Test in Centurion on Thursday.
South Africa will be led by captain Quinton de Kock as they come off a 2-0 home series win over Sri Lanka that concluded on Tuesday.
Lucknow Super Giants captain KL Rahul said Ayush Badoni is a strong 360-degree player and an asset for white-ball cricket in India.
David Miller's late cameo saw South Africa stage a late comeback to outclass Sri Lanka by four wickets in the Super 12 match at the T20 World Cup at the Sharjah Cricket Stadium on Saturday.
Images from the IPL final between Delhi Capitals and Mumbai Indians, in Dubai on Tuesday.
Images from the second One-Day International between South Africa and India, in Paarl, on Friday.
IMAGES from the IPL 2022 game between Royal Challengers Bangalore and Lucknow Super Giants in Navi Mumbai on Tuesday.
Both teams will be looking to get out of the danger zone as eight teams remain in the play-off contention.
Srinivas Bhogle and Purnendu Maji present Rediff.com's Most Valuable Player Index after 45 World Cup 2023 games.
While coming at No. 5, Rahul's role as a batsman is not easy - he either has very few overs to make an impact after a top-order mayhem or he has to consolidate after a top-order malfunction.
IMAGES from the IPL match played between Gujarat Titans and Lucknow Super Giants in Pune on Tuesday.
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