2015 ODI: India VS South Africa Betting Tips
Fresh from their win in the T20 International series against India, South Africa will try to continue their good form when the two sides meet in a One Day International series starting on Sunday. South Africa will be focused and determined as they have never won a bilateral ODI series in India.
With packed calendars these days, one rarely finds gap between different series. However, South Africa will take comfort from the fact that they outplayed the hosts in the T20 series. With AB De Villiers back in the captaincy role, the visitors will be eager to clinch the series.
Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel missed the T20Is for different reasons. Their return to the team makes their attack much more potent. De Villiers will hope that his fast men can dish up some short stuff to test the Indian stroke play. Quinton de Kock is back too while a lot will depend on their captain De Villiers and how he can master his spin battle with Ravi Ashwin. The crafty off-spinner had the batsman in his pocket for the T20Is and hence would cherish the resumption of his ‘battle royale’.
Quite surprisingly, South Africa arrived to India on the back of some inconsistent results. They were beaten by Bangladesh but overcame New Zealand at home.
India is a different side in the ODIs than T20Is as their record shows. Especially under MS Dhoni in spin-friendly conditions, the battery of slow bowlers stifles the opposition during the middle overs. Dhoni likes controlling the game with his spinners which explains his rallying cry to the curators to not present green-tops.
India may have lost five of their last seven ODIs against South Africa, but their record at home is formidable. They have won three and drawn one of the four bilateral ODI series played in India.
The visitors will be confident following their T20 Series win but the ODI series will be a different prospect. At odds of $1.78 at CrownBet, India look a good bet to win the first match. The pressure on Dhoni is also mounting and he could promote himself and get more time to build his innings. At big odds of $21 at Ladbrokes, Dhoni could be a dark horse for ending up as India’s best batsman in the series.
For South Africa, JP Duminy could be the dark horse to finish as their best batsman. Ladbrokes are offering odds of $8.00 for Duminy to end up as the best batsman during the series for the visitors.
Imran Tahir should relish the pitches in India and could end up being South Africa’s best bowler this series at odds of $3.00 at Ladbrokes.
With both sides boasting of some incredible talent, the series promises to be an exciting affair.
