While the South African team is getting ready for the away ODI series against the hosts India, former Proteas all-rounder, Albie Morkel feels that it is almost impossible to beat India in India.
India and South Africa both are ready to end the ongoing cricket season with the three-match ODI series in India. Both teams experienced completely different results in their respective last ODI series. While the hosts South Africa beat Australia in the three-match ODI series by the 3-0 margin, the visitors India suffered the 3-0 defeat in the three-match ODI series against the hosts New Zealand.
After the conclusion of the ICC Cricket World Cup 2019, the Proteas team started to change the coaching staff. In the latest home summer, the South African team had mixture results which ended with the ODI series victory against the strong Australian team.
India will win it 2-1: Albie Morkel about the ODI series between India and South Africa
While Albie Morkel feels fantastic to overpower Australia in the home ODI series, he also believes that it is almost impossible to beat India in India. However, Morkel is expecting some fights from the South African cricketers in the ODI series against the hosts India. He has predicted that the series margin will be 2-1 for India.
Morkel said according to Sportstar, “It was sort of a mixed summer before the new coaching staff took over. Obviously, they had a fantastic win against Australia in the ODI series, after losing the T20 series badly. So, I’m unsure.
“Even if a team is in top form, beating India in India is almost an impossible task. It’s going be a tough series for them, but I do expect them to at least compete. India will win it 2-1, but South Africa should compete, especially now that they have the confidence after the series against Australia.”
The India-South Africa ODI series will begin on Thursday (12th March) at Dharamsala. They will play the next two matches at Lucknow and Kolkata on 15th and 18th March respectively.
Last time South Africa played the ODI series in India in October 2015. It was the five-match ODI series and the visitors Proteas side won that ODI series by the 3-2 margin.