India vs South Africa, 1st ODI: Stats Preview of Players’ Records and Approaching Milestones

KL Rahul and Aiden Markram. (Photo Source: Pankaj Nangia/Getty Images)

India and South Africa will be facing each other in a three-match ODI series starting on December 17 at the Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg. The second ODI match will be played at the St George’s Park, Gqeberha on December 19 and third one at the Boland Park, Paarl on December 21.

India come into the contest after levelling the T20I series against Proteas by 1-1. Speaking of their ODI form, India lost their final of ODI World Cup 2023 to Australia after 10 wins on the trot. On the other hand, South Africa are coming after a fighting exit from the semi-final of ODI World Cup 2023, which they lost to Australia.

Rinku Singh, Sai Sudarshan and Akash Deep have got a maiden call-up for ODI against South Africa, with the latter coming in as Deepak Chahar’s replacement. Shreyas Iyer has an good record against Proteas in ODIs, having scored 370 runs in nine innings at an average of 52.85, including a century and two half-centuries. In the bowling department, Kuldeep Yadav has been brilliant against West Indies in India’s last bilateral ODI series. Overall, he has picked 26 wickets in 11 ODI innings and Yuzvendra Chahal took 22 wickets in 10 innings in 2023.

In the South Africa squad, Mihlali Mpongwana, Nandre Burger and Ottniel Baartman have got a maiden call-up in the ODI team. David Miller holds a very good record against India in ODIs, having scored 501 runs in 25 innings at an average of 26.36, including two half-centuries. In the bowling department, Andile Phehlukwayo has a good record against India in ODIs with 10 wickets in 10 innings.

Here are some important stats and numbers ahead of the 1st ODI between India and South Africa:

Head-to-Head records: In a total of 91 games played between the two teams, South Africa dominate with 50 wins over India’ 38, while three games have had no results. In South Africa, both teams have faced each other on 37 occasions, with India winning 10 and losing 25 games, and two no results.

14 – Shreyas Iyer (486) needs 14 runs to complete 500 runs against South Africa across formats.

1 – Aiden Markram (49) needs one maximum to complete 50 sixes in ODI cricket.

3 – Heinrich Klaasen (147) needs 3 fours to complete 150 fours in 50-over format.

3 – David Miller (247) needs 3 sixes to complete 250 sixes across formats.

2 – Axar Patel (98) needs 2 fours to complete 100 fours across formats.