World Cup 2023, Match 37 | India Predicted XI vs South Africa

image-lok1d9hgIndia will play South Africa in the 37th match of the World Cup 2023 (Source: AP Photos)

The only undefeated side in the competition so far, India (IND) now square off against another in-form side South Africa (SA) in the ongoing sixteenth campaign of the World Cup. The most-awaited and mouth-watering encounter (Match No. 37) is scheduled to take place on a Super Sunday, November 05, 2023, at the historic Eden Gardens in Kolkata at 14:00 PM IST. 

The host nation has been in unbelievable and sublime form so far as they have won all of their opening seven matches. Rohit Sharma and his side are just looking unstoppable at the moment but they now face a stern test in the form of the Proteas. With 12 points and a healthy net run rate of +2.102, the Asian giants have already qualified for the semi-final.

For More Such Reads, Click Here.

On the other hand, the South Africans have also looked like the team to beat as they have played seven games with six victories and just one defeat. Their only embarrassing loss came against the Netherlands in Dharamsala. With ten points and an NRR of +2.290, the Proteas are placed below India in the second spot in the table. 

Ahead of the clash against the dangerous-looking African side, let us have a look at the predicted XI for Team India.


Openers: Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill

Skipper Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill will open the innings for the Asian giants. The former has led his side from the front by smashing 402 runs so far at an average of 57.42. The right-hander has struck one hundred and two fifties in this campaign. His opening partner Gill missed the first two games due to illness and since his return he has managed to rack up 196 runs at an average of 39.20. He scored a run-a-ball 92 against Sri Lanka in the last game in Mumbai.

Here is the performance of both the openers in ODIs in 2023:

Player
Matches
Runs
Runs Per Innings
Rohit Sharma23106053.00
Shubman Gill25142664.81


Middle-Order: Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Suryakumar Yadav

Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul and Surykumar Yadav will form the middle-order for team India in this fixture. Kohli is the leading run-scorer for his side so far in this campaign. The no. three right-hander has amassed 442 runs at an average of 88.40 which includes one century and four half-centuries. No. four batter Shreyas Iyer has 216 runs under his belt at an average of 43.20. He smacked 82 off just 56 with three fours and six maximums against Sri Lanka last time out. KL Rahul has mustered the third-most runs for his team in this WC. The right-handed player has scored 237 runs at an average of 79.00 with one fifty. Suryakumar has got two low scores and one good knock of 49 so far. A big score maybe around the corner for him in this tie. 

This is how these four players have performed in this format this year:

Player
Matches
Runs
Runs Per Innings
Virat Kohli23105465.87
Shreyas Iyer1548040.00
KL Rahul2076869.81
Suryakumar Yadav1734623.06


All-rounders: Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav

Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav will slot in at no. seven and eight respectively. Jadeja has managed to pick up nine wickets in seven innings at an average of 23.33 and an economy rate of just 3.78. The all-rounder is also averaging 41.00 with the bat with scores of 39*, 8 and 35. Kuldeep Yadav has snared the third-most scalps ifor India in this WC. He has ten wickets to his name at an average of 26.40 and an economy rate of 4.40.

This is how both have fared in ODI cricket in 2023:

Player
Matches
Runs
Wickets
Runs Per Innings
Ravindra Jadeja222712430.11
Kuldeep Yadav2451438.50


Bowlers: Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Mohammed Siraj

Deadly trio of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj will be the bowlers for this contest. Bumrah and Shami have been absolutely brialliant so far in this campaign as the duo have terrorised the opposition batters with their quality seam and swing. Bumrah is leading the bowling charts with 15 scalps while Shami has just 14 wickets in three outings. Siraj has also been around with nine wickets at an average of 34.00. The trio has become one of the most fearsome bowling line-ups in this WC and they would look to continue their fine form.

Performance of these three bowlers in ODIs this year:

Player
Matches
Wickets
Strike-rate
Jasprit Bumrah
132325.0
Mohammed Shami153319.2
Mohammed Siraj213922.4



India Predicted-XI against South Africa:

Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Suryakumar Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, and Mohammed Siraj.