ICC CWC 2019 Match 8 highlights: Rohit ton helps India thrash SA by 6 wkts

Leg-spinner Yuzvendra Chahal grabbed four wickets, helping India restrict South Africa to a sub-par 227 for 9 in their opening encounter. Check India vs South Africa live score, toss updates here

12:40 PM

Shami or Bhuvneshwar? Here's Virat Kohli take on it

The prevalent overcast conditions in Southampton may force the Indian team management to opt for an extra seamer against South Africa in the opening World Cup game on Wednesday, indicated skipper Virat Kohli.

While chances of Bhuvneshwar Kumar's inclusion in the playing XI look brighter by the minute, Kohli gave an open-ended reply to the various questions on possible team combinations. There are indictions that Mohammed Shami may make the way for Bhuvneshwar but there are not any confirmation with regards to that. In that case, Vijay Shankar will pip Kedar Jadhav to share the third seamer's duties with Hardik Pandya.
 

"We know it is a different situation in England when there is a cloud cover and when there is sun out. With two new balls, if the pitch has something to offer, then an extra seamer comes into the play big time. But even on a good pitch, on a batting-friendly pitch with two new balls, I foresee the first 10 overs to be challenging if there is cloud cover," Kohli said, dropping a broad hint on Bhuvneshwar's possible inclusion.

While Bhuvneshwar is a capable batsman but seamer-friendly conditions may prompt India to drop a spinner in case a fully fit Jadhav is included.

"I think it will definitely be challenging, starting at 10.30 am in the morning for the batsmen and that is something that we have discussed and we have recognized how to go about it, what are the plans heading into being a bit more solid in that particular phase," said the skipper without divulging much. Read full story here
 

12:35 PM

South Africa pacer Dale Steyn ruled out of WC

In a major blow, South Africa pacer Dale Steyn been ruled out of the 2019 World Cup after failing to recover from the shoulder injury he sustained during the Indian Premier League. Steyn had already missed the first two games of the showpiece event against England and Bangladesh and skipper Faf du Plessis was hopeful that he would be fit in time for the game against India.

Steyn will be replaced in the South Africa squad by left arm pacer Beuran Hendricks. He made his ODI debut in January against Pakistan.
 

12:33 PM

India's winning streak against South Africa

Since 2012, India gave a 5-0 record against South Africa at tornaments organised by ICC, having beaten Proteas in the 2012 and 2014 World T20s and 2013 and 2017 Champions trophies, and once 2015 World Cup
 

12:22 PM

Rabada's 'Immature jibe': Kohli says he will discuss 'man to man'

Kagiso Rabada may have found Virat Kohli's on-field demeanour to be "very immature" but the Indian captain Tuesday showed enough maturity, refraining from getting into a war of words ahead of their World Cup encounter against South Africa.

Rabada, in a recent interview to a cricket website, had recalled an incident during an IPL game when he felt that Kohli lacked maturity.

"I was just thinking about the game plan, really, but Virat, he hit me for a boundary and then he had a word. And then when you give it back to him, he gets angry. I don't get the guy. Maybe he does it because it gets him going, but that comes across as very immature for me. He is a phenomenal player but he can't take the abuse," Rabada had said.

When a South African scribe popped the question, Kohli first denied having any knowledge of the comment made by the Prateas speedster, but when probed further, the Indian skipper immediately doused the fire.

"Well, I played against him many times and if anything needs to be discussed, we can discuss it man-to-man. I am not using a press conference to answer anything," Kohli replied.
 

Virat Kohli. Photo: Reuters

12:12 PM

Here are the squad of both the teams

India: Virat Kohli (c), Jasprit Bumrah, Yuzvendra Chahal, Shikhar Dhawan, MS Dhoni (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Kedar Jadhav, Dinesh Karthik, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Hardik Pandya, K.L. Rahul, Mohammed Shami, Vijay Shankar, Rohit Sharma, Kuldeep Yadav

South Africa: Faf du Plessis (c), Aiden Markram, Quinton de Kock (wk), Hashim Amla, Rassie van der Dussen, David Miller, Chris Morris, Andile Phehlukwayo, JP Duminy, Dwaine Pretorius, Dale Steyn, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Imran Tahir, Tabraiz Shamsi

12:10 PM

Preview

India will look to add to South Africa's agony when they face beleaguered Faf du Plessis' men in their first World Cup encounter at the Ageas Bowl, here on Wednesday.

The Proteas are hurting after two defeats against England and Bangladesh, while India are fresh and raring to go, and that only makes them more dangerous.

India, after their second warm-up match against Bangladesh, had more than a week's time to tune off and get themselves prepared for their first World Cup match.

It will be interesting to see whether Virat Kohli will go in with both the spinners -- Kuldeep Yadav, Yuzvendra Chahal -- or will go in with an extra pacer in the form of Bhuvaneshwar Kumar to strengthen their pace attack -- led by Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammad Shami.

However, given the inability of the South African batsmen to play against spinners, Kohli might be tempted to play 'Kul-cha'. Both Chahal and Kuldeep were extremely successful against the Proteas batsmen in the ODI series in South Africa last year which India had won. Kuldeep had scalped 17 wickets from six games while Chahal had one less from equal number of matches.

Another dilemma which Kohli would be having is whom to play -- Kedar Jadhav or Vijay Shankar. While Jadhav provides him with those four-five overs of spin in the middle, Shankar can prove to be handy in the overcast conditions. Also, Jadhav's batting and power-hitting ability makes him a much valuable player as compared to the Tamil Nadu all-rounder.

The Indian top-order failed to perform in both their warm-up games and that can be a cause of concern for the team management. Both Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan didn't manage to score runs against New Zealand and Bangladesh. However, Kohli doesn't see that as a major issue and feels that his star openers are big-match players who will perform in the tournament proper.

However, the big plus for the No. 2 ranked ODI side is the form of K.L. Rahul and M.S. Dhoni who scored hundreds against Bangladesh.

On the other hand, Proteas did not have a great start to their World Cup campaign. They conceded totals in excess of 300 against both England and Bangladesh. The bowling seems to lack the killer instinct and the absence of young pacer Lungi Ngidi for the crucial game only adds to their worries. Also, Dale Steyn is has been ruled out of cricket world cup 2019.