India will be playing the second ODI against South Africa at the Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium in Raipur on December 6, Wednesday. KL Rahul and co will be eager to carry forward the momentum and win the series with 2-0 lead. But the challenge won’t be easy as South Africa already put up a strong fight in the last match and this time the Proteas will be aiming to bounce back stronger.
One of the major boost for visiting side is that Temba Bavuma will be making his return back to the squad as he missed the first ODI. Bavuma’s presence gives confidence to his team and he will definitely strengthen the batting lineup.
For India, all eyes will be on Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma who performed exceptionally well in the last match scoring 135 and 57 respectively. With a stunning form they are carrying, the pitch will also provide massive help as it is expected to favour batting.
The pitch at Shaheed Veer Narayan Singh International Stadium is traditionally flat and offers true pace and bounce making it very comfortable for batters. The shots are easier it the ball comes nicely on the bat and bowlers need variations in order to succeed. Spinners might also find some assistance in the middle overs but the nature of surface will remain batting friendly so the bowlers will need to be extra careful.
For the toss, winning it and bowling first will be the right option as dew has been a major factor in the evening games at this venue. The grip becomes difficult as the match progresses and defending a total might prove to be tricky. Chasing is likely easier this will also provide teams with clear tactical advantage.