South Africa's big battle to overcome the Indian challenge

Betting Odds

Our Predictions 

• Virat Kohli has odds of 3.96 to be the best batsman for India.  
• Quinton de Kock has odds of 4.22 to be South Africa's best batsman. 
• Jasprit Bumrah has odds of 3.70 to be India's best bowler.  
• Tabraiz Shamsi has odds of 3.98 to be the best bowler for South Africa.  

MATCH PREVIEW     

It is the battle royale in the ICC Cricket World Cup 2023 as India takes on South Africa in the 37th game. Both sides have done well. Indians come here with a massive win against Sri Lanka and have already made their way to the semifinal. The hosts have been the favorites on cricket betting sites and have lived up to it in every game. They face the strongest side in this game and shall like to come out triumphant. South Africa has seen its odds rise with every game and won by a massive margin against New Zealand in the last game. A win in this game will guarantee them a place in the semifinal, and that's what the side will aim for.    

India Preview      

Rohit Sharma and his side are doing well. Most cricket betting tips at the start of this tournament had predicted them to be the favorites, and they haven't harmed their reputation. The side comes into this contest with another massive win against Sri Lanka. They won the game by 302 runs and have won all seven games. It will be a more formidable challenge against the South Africans, and Sharma would like his side to draw inspiration from their excellent record against the South Africans at home.   

Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill are in excellent form, and the side would like to see a good show from them in this game. Virat Kohli is enjoying a purple patch and will look to make it count, building partnerships in the middle order with Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul. Suryakumar Yadav and Ravindra Jadeja add punch to this line-up down the order, and they will take on the South African bowlers.  

Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammad Siraj tore apart the Sri Lankan batting line-up in the last game, and the pair will hunt for early wickets in this game. The South Africans are doing well at the top, and the Indian new ball pair must be on the top of its game. Mohammad Shami is troubling the batters and will look to ride his form. The wicket will aid the spinners, and the spin duo of Kuldeep Yadav and Jadeja shall look to trouble the South Africans, who aren't the best players of spin.      

Expected Starting XI for India     

Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Suryakumar Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammad Shami  

South Africa Preview      

On most cricket betting apps, Temba Bavuma's side wasn't one of the favorites at the start of the tournament. But they have made the world take notice of them with consistent performances. They defeated New Zealand in the last game by 190 runs, another big win for the side. However, they face the strongest team in this game, and Bavuma would like his players to stick to the basics and challenge the hosts.  

Quinton de Kock is in phenomenal form, with four hundreds in the tournament. He will look to ride it and do well at the top with Bavuma. Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram, and David Miller make it a formidable middle order, and they will look to build partnerships. Heinrich Klaasen and Marco Jansen can hit the ball and add firepower to this line-up.  

Marco Jansen and Lungi Ngidi have bowled with a lot of heart with the new ball, and they will face a big test in this game. Early wickets from the duo can put the side in a commanding position. Kagiso Rabada and Gerald Coetzee must deliver the goods in the middle overs, as the Indian middle order looks good. Keshav Maharaj, Tabraiz Shamsi, and Markram shall look to get the best out of this surface.      

Expected Starting XI for South Africa     

Temba Bavuma (c), Quinton de Kock, Rassie van der Dussen, Heinrich Klaasen (wk), Aiden Markram, David Miller, Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada, Keshav Maharaj, Tabraiz Shamsi, Lungi Ngidi  

TOSS: To Bat First      

We have had two low-scoring games at this venue. The wicket is challenging to bat on in the second half as the ball has stopped on the batters. The side winning the toss would like to take advantage of the wicket by batting first.  

PITCH AND WEATHER CONDITIONS      

It will be slightly cloudy skies over Kolkata. The wicket will be two-paced and create doubts in the batsmen's minds. Batsmen must build their innings on this surface, as the spinners will find a lot of turn on this surface. The side batting first shall eye 300 runs on the board to win this game.  

OUR PREDICTION      

South Africans have been the second-best side in the tournament, and their batting line-up has torn apart bowling attacks. They don't have a good record against India in India but have to put behind past performances. The Indians are on the top of their game and come here with seven consecutive wins. They play in their home conditions, giving them an edge over South Africa.  

Our Prediction is for India to win