In familiar territory: India look to put New Zealand drubbing behind and start afresh against South Africa

By Saumojyoti S Choudhury

Hardik Pandya's eagerly-awaited international comeback adds a lot of context to India's three match ODI campaign against South Africa starting today (Thursday) where the hosts would be aiming to put the 'New Zealand Nightmare' behind them.

Amid the ever-rising danger of Covid-19 and threat of rain playing spoilsport, Pandya's all-round flamboyance will keep skipper Virat Kohli in a good headspace as he would look to forget the 0-3 mauling in the last series in New Zealand.


Pandya last played an ODI against New Zealand in the World Cup semi-final in Manchester and his last international game was a T20 against the Proteas in Bengaluru in September last year. He forced his way back into the national team with his all-round performances at the DY Patil Corporate Cup, where he looked fit and ready to go.

Skipper Kohli and coach Ravi Shastri have spoken openly about ODIs being least of priority in a World T20 year. But his men can ill-afford to lose another series against an inexperienced South African side, buoyed after crushing Australia 3-0 in their own den.

Having lost five international games (two Tests included) on the trot, Kohli, himself enduring a bad patch, will be keen to buck the trend.

Kohli, who managed just 75 runs against the Kiwis, would be itching to get some runs on the board.

The presence of Pandya along with a fitagain senior opener Shikhar Dhawan and seamer Bhuvneshwar Kumar make India favourites on paper against a South Africa that comprise seasoned campaigners like Quinton d Kock, Faf du Plessis and David Miller in their ranks.

Dhawan, Bhuvneshwar and Pandya automatically pick themselves in the playing XI while Manish Pandey might just get a longer run at No 6 now that Kedar Jadhav has been dropped from the squad.

In the absence of Rohit Sharma, who is yet to recover from a calf injury, Dhawan's return would lend valuable experience to the Indian top-order, which badly missed both the openers in New Zealand.

Bhuvneshwar's return will give India good depth during the slog overs where Shardul Thakur had seemed completely misfit.

Mohammed Shami has been rested for the series after getting a blow on his shoulder in the second Test in New Zealand. Ravindra Jadeja is expected to be the lone spinning option on a seamer-friendly Dharamsala track unless team management feels the urge to include Kuldeep Yadav in the team.