One Day International Cricket – South Africa try to avoid Indian whitewash

Dead rubbers are tricky to navigate for the series winning team with questions plaguing selection duties.
Do you want to rest players and blood youngsters in an environment that won’t upset the apple cart too much if you lose? Is it wise to rest players who are in scintillating form but most importantly do you want to close out the series without a loss?
Australia’s summer of success in which they didn’t lose a match in 20 outings, albeit to paltry opposition in West Indies and Pakistan, was a perfect example of a team that toyed with combinations that paid off.
One Day International Cricket Odds - Saturday, February 27, 3.30am EST

India +130
South Africa –160

Late last year Sri Lanka tried a similar tactic and they were pummelled by India who was ruthless in the Test series and subsequent one-day series.
With a 2-nil lead in this three match series against South Africa, India has decided to rest some key players, none bigger than double centurion Sachin Tendulkar.
Tendulkar became the first player in one-day international history to score 200 and having batted out the full 50-overs against South Africa only days ago in Gawlior, selectors have decided to rest his ageing frame in lieu of younger talent.
Opening partner Virender Sehwag will also be rested which means India will go into the final match of this series without a host of experienced players including offy Harbhajan Singh, Yuvraj Singh, Gautam Gambhir, pace spearhead Zaheer Khan and fellow quick Praveen Kumar.
Tendulkar’s replacement is slated as limited over debutante Murali Vijay, a 25-year-old right handed opener from Chennai while India will toy with adding an all-rounder to their mix and move the batting line up one place to accommodate Sehwag’s absence.
South Africa on the other hand is struggling for any kind of cohesion in their unit. While it seemed that Mickey Arthur’s departure as coach mattered little after their innings defeat of India in the first Test, things have gone downhill for the visiting team who has now dropped three matches in a row including this week’s earlier humbling at the hands of Tendulkar.
To be fair when Tendulkar is in the mood he was at Gawlior, in which he pulverised South Africa’s attack to all parts of the ground to reach 200 in 151 balls, there is no stopping him.
A fact overlooked in the Tendulkar’s run fest was AB de Villiers innings of 114 off 101 balls, just his second century in the past 22 outings in Test and One-Dayers which gives an indication of how straight and true the pitch was playing.
That is not to throw scorn or devalue Tendulkar’s achievement in any way but de Villiers innings in a total of 248 chasing 402 was a stellar effort and with JP Duminy now headed home due to a hand injury, his role in the middle order is even more important.
You will see two different approaches in this match at Ahmedabad, India will be looking to the future who in turn will want to impress with flashiness while South Africa need to regain composure after again failing to meet the high standards they expect of themselves.