'Even DK was finding it a little bit difficult at the start. The wicket played a huge role in this game. And as for that strategy, we can and we will be going with it in the next matches as well.'
Srinivas Bhogle and Purnendu Maji present Rediff.com's Most Valuable Player Index after 45 World Cup 2023 games.
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.
India, missing their top players, aim to punch above their weight and seal a memorable series victory against South Africa in the third and final ODI in New Delhi on Tuesday.
Quinton de Kock smashed 174 off 140 balls, his third century in five innings, to power South Africa to a 149-run victory against Bangladesh.
Srinivas Bhogle and Purnendu Maji present Rediff.com's Most Valuable performances of IPL 2024
Krishanappa Gowtham scored at a strike rate of 300, smashing 33 not out from 11 balls, which included 4 fours and 2 sixes.
Dube smashed an unbeaten 79 off 60 balls that included a half a dozen of sixes and three boundaries which took India's score to 327 for 6 in 47 overs.
Srinivas Bhogle and Purnendu Maji present Rediff.com's Most Valuable Player Index of IPL 2024 after Game 31.
Young Shreyas Gopal spun a web around a star-studded Royal Challengers Bangalore batting line-up to claim four wickets for 16 runs and help Rajasthan Royals score a 30-run victory and stay in the reckoning for a play-offs berth in the Indian Premier League, in Jaipur, on Saturday.
Janneman Malan, who was out to the first ball of the match on debut on Saturday, anchored the South African reply, taming his usual swashbuckling style to score 129 not out from 139 balls and lead the home side to victory with nine balls to spare.
Also included is fast bowler Anrich Nortje, but in-form opening batsman Temba Bavuma will have to prove his fitness after injuring his hamstring against England on Sunday.
Ahead of Thursday's Indian Premier League player auction, Royal Challengers Banglore captain Virat Kohli assured the fans that they will cover all bases and pick a strong team for the next edition of IPL. Ahead of this year's IPL auction, RCB had released 12 players from their squad, while retaining 13.
Who do you think should be part of India's playing XI for Sunday's match against South Africa?
However, South Africa have lot of openers stacked on top (Bavuma, Quinton de Kock, Aiden Markram, Rassie van der Dussen and Reeza Hendricks) with a light middle order which is still a huge concern.
South Africa will be without limited-overs stalwarts Hashim Amla and JP Duminy for their white-ball tour of Australia next month but welcome back all-rounder Chris Morris from injury.
Chasing targets has been their Achilles heel throughout the tournament. The same batters who've plundered the bowling and scored daddy hundreds batting first, have resembled pale shadows of themselves chasing targets.
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.
Steve Smith may have been disgraced for his role in the ball-tampering scandal in South Africa but newly-appointed Rajasthan Royals captain Ajinkya Rahane said that he still respects him as a world-class batsman.
The Knight Riders have outplayed Rajasthan both in the home and away games this season.
Having suffered a minor setback in the previous game, India will look to recover and close out this eight-week long tour with a series win.
J P Duminy and Heinrich Klassen hit superb half-centuries to steer South Africa to a six-wicket victory over India in the second Twenty20 International, in Centurion, on Wednesday night.
The unbeaten Mumbai duo added 185 runs for the fourth wicket to rescue the hosts who looked in dire straits at 39 for three in the morning session after opting to bat in Ranchi.
South Africa 'A' fast bowler Lungi Ngidi, on a comeback trail after injury, bowled Gill, who made a classy 90 in the first innings to leave India 'A' at 10 for one.
Images from the IPL 2023 match between Kolkata Knight Riders and SunRisers Hyderabad played at the Eden Gardens in Kolkata on Friday
Disillusioned with the 'politics' in South African cricket administration, Brian McMillan decided to stay away from the game.
India will need another near perfect game to take the five-match series into the decider.
South Africa's middle-order batter Aiden Markram rued his inability to take the game deep despite top-scoring for his side, saying the Indian bowlers didn't give the visitors any freebies during the second ODI in Ranchi on Sunday.
While the batting looks in perfect shape, India's new-look pace department needs to come up with something special against the Proteas in Cuttack on Sunday.
IMAGES from the 1st T20I played between India and South Africa at the Wanderers on Sunday
Cameron Green's magnificent maiden hundred and Rohit Sharma's half century powered Mumbai Indians to a comprehensive eight-wicket victory over Sunrisers Hyderabad.
India will be looking to round off their T20 World Cup preparation with a marked improvement in their death bowling besides providing crucial game time to its untested players in the three-match series against South Africa.
IMAGES from the ICC World Cup match between Pakistan and South Africa, in Chennai, on Friday.
IMAGES from the IPL match played between Rajasthan Royals and SunRisers Hyderabad in Jaipur on Sunday.
A clinical India outplayed South Africa with both bat and ball to register a comprehensive 48-run victory in the third T20I in Visakhapatnam on Tuesday and keep themselves alive in the five-match series.
IMAGES from the ICC World Cup match played between South Africa and Sri Lanka in New Delhi on Saturday.
Smarting from opening game losses, a good batting display will be high on the agenda for South Africa and defending champions West Indies when the two teams lock horns in a Super 12 match of the T20 World Cup in Dubai on Tuesday.
Archer spent 17 months on the sidelines with back and elbow injuries
A buoyant India will look to cash in on South Africa's injury woes, compounded by the loss of captain Faf du Plessis, when the two sides meet in the second One-Day International in Centurion on Sunday.
Images from the third and final One-Day International between India and South Africa in Delhi on Tuesday.
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