2nd ODI: India opt to field against SA

NEW DELHI: Indian skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni won the toss and decided to field first against South Africa in the must-win second one-day international of three-match series at the Kingsmead Stadium in Durban on Sunday.

The Indian team has made three changes to the squad with an unfit Yuvraj Singh making way for Ajinkya Rahane in the batting department.

In the bowling changes, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohit Sharma have been replaced by Ishant Sharma and Umesh Yadav.

South Africa have brought in Vernon Philander in place of Wayne Parnell.

Faced with a do-or-die situation after their crushing 141-run defeat in the first match, India would look to turn around their fortunes with an improved show especially in the bowling department.

The Indians, licking their wounds after an embarrassing defeat in Johannesburg, have been left with no other option but to win on Sunday to stay afloat in the three-match series which has been dedicated to anti-apartheid icon and former president Nelson Mandela who passed away on Friday.

The visitors though have other things to be concerned about, most of all, their bowling. That it was their weakest link has been known to one and all. However, the audacity with which Quinton de Kock, AB de Villers and JP Duminy butchered the Indian bowlers mystified many.

Poor bowling is one thing, and youngsters tend to learn and adapt as the game progresses. But they were not allowed to settle down as the South African batsmen plundered runs almost at will in Johannesburg.

One of the main reasons for the carnage-like experience in Johannesburg was due to lack of pace in the bowling of the likes of Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Mohit Sharma. Add short bowling and poor control to it, and the South African batsmen had it easier than net practice.

Teams:

India: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (Capt.), Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Suresh Raina, Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin, Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav.

South Africa: AB de Villiers (Capt.), Hashim Amla, Quniton de Kock, Jacques Kallis, JP Duminy, David Miller, Ryan McLaren, Vernon Philander, Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, Lonwabe Tsotsobe.