To follow their memorable 2-1 Test triumph, South Africa enjoyed a comfortable 3-0 ODI series win over India. Let’s take a look at our combined XI made up of the best performers in the series:
Quinton de Kock
229 runs @ 76.33, HS 124, one hundred, one fifty
The South Africa keeper walked into a side buoyed by their Test success against India and helped them gain the upper hand in the limited overs game as well. His returns improved with each game, a watchful 27 was followed by a series-winning 78, and in the third game, he scored a commanding hundred in a close win.
Shikhar Dhawan
169 runs @ 56.33, HS 79, two fifties
The 36-year-old walked into the series as an ageing top-order option with an underwhelming run in the Vijay Hazare Trophy behind him but returns to India with his reputation enhanced. Even as KL Rahul’s self-promotion to the top didn’t work out well, Dhawan tried to infuse positive intent at the top with his aggressive stroke-play.
Janneman Malan
98 runs @ 32.66, HS 91, one fifty
Malan flopped in the first and third ODI, but played a good hand in the South Africa win in the second ODI with a determined 91 at Paarl.
Temba Bavuma
153 runs @ 51, HS 110, hundred 1
The South Africa skipper carried forward his exceptional run from the Test series to the ODIs, he scored a patient 110 in the first ODI to get South Africa to a match-winning total before scoring a solid 35 in the second game. His returns could’ve been better but for a run-out which ended his innings early in the third ODI.
Virat Kohli
116 runs @ 38.66, HS 65, two fifties
Kohli showed fight in the first and third ODIs, getting a pair of fifties. He struck healthy partnerships with Dhawan to keep India’s chase alive in both of those games.
Rassie van der Dussen
218 runs @ 218, HS 129*, one hundred, one fifty
It took India until the final game of the series to get the wicket of van der Dussen who continued his golden run in ODI cricket, bringing his average to a remarkable 74.52 by the end of the series. His strike-rate of 113 was far superior to his career strike-rate, and helped South Africa score at a brisk pace in the middle overs.
Andile Phehlukwayo
6 wickets @ 18.33, BBI 3-40
Phehlukwayo was predominantly used in the middle and death overs during the series, and was able to keep the scoring rate under control while picking some crucial wickets including that of Rishabh Pant in the first ODI, and Dhawan in the third ODI.
Deepak Chahar
54 runs, 2 wickets @ 26
The Rajasthan seamer replaced Bhuvneshwar Kumar for the third ODI, and did his job superbly. He picked two wickets early on in the South Africa innings, and then brought India back into the game with a blistering fifty.
Tabraiz Shamsi
4 wickets @ 27.25, BBI 2-52
The left-arm wrist spinner showed his class in the first two games and was the stand out bowler for South Africa. He took wickets at crucial stages in the two ODIs at Paarl, getting rid of Kohli in the first game, while helping himself to Pant’s wicket in the second ODI.
Lungi Ngidi
5 wickets @ 31.4, BBI 3-58
The South Africa pacer was at his finest during the tight third ODI, helping his side win a thriller against India.
Jasprit Bumrah
5 wickets @ 27.4, BBI 2-48
The India vice-captain was his side’s best bowler and doing so while leading a bowling attack which wasn’t at its finest during the first two games of the series.
