SA v IND 2018: With Du Plessis out, India should win the series 5-1, says Kris Srikkanth

Faf du Plessis suffered from a fractured finger and was ruled out fo the remainder of the series.

Kris Srikkanth said that India should win 5-1 in the ODI series

After the bad news of AB de Villiers missing the first three ODIs due to an injured finger; things got worse for South African camp, as captain Faf du Plessis fractured his finger during the first ODI against India, ruling him out of the remainder of the ODI series and the T20I series to follow.

This has made former India captain Kris Srikkanth claim that the Virat Kohli led India side should now win the series 5-1.

Writing in his column for TOI, Srikkanth said, "If the absence of AB de Villiers hurt the hosts, then the non-availability of Faf du Plessis, makes this almost a no-contest. From the start of the Test series I have found their bowling unit to be decent at best."

"It turned out to be far easier than expected for India in the first One-dayer, and I don't see things getting any different in the remaining five games. If the score-line is not 5-1, India would have done something wrong,” he said.

Du Plessis was wonderful in the first ODI, as his 120 led to South Africa putting up a fighting total of 269 in the first ODI.

Faf du Plessis will miss the remainder of ODI series and the T20I series due to a broken finger

Srikkanth was also impressed by the Indian team management, who went in with the spin twins in the first ODI.

"India did well by fielding two wrist spinners. It is a risk worth taking as they are wicket-taking options. With Chahal and Kuldeep displaying excellent control, the pressure on the batsmen is always on and that is one of the reasons why they are extremely successful as a pair," Srikkanth wrote.

Faf du Plessis was overshadowed by his counterpart Virat Kohli, whose 33rd ODI century and 18th in a successful chase, took India to an easy win.

"A sub-par target and an in-form Virat Kohli meant only one result from the word go. What continues to impress me is Kohli's easy approach to batting, especially in chases. There is not a moment when he forces himself to bat out of his zone. I have never seen a batsman play only proper cricket shots and come out successful even when up against tough targets," wrote Srikkanth, who played 43 Tests and 146 ODIs for India.

Srikkanth said that South Africa’s weaknesses have been exposed in the shorter formats by Indian team.

"In the shorter format, they [South Africa] are being exposed brutally. This is easily one of the weakest South African attacks and the Indian batsmen should have a field day. In all probability, India should have their way in the second match as well," he wrote.

 
 

By Jatin Sharma - 04 Feb, 2018

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