India eye Kotla high

India players celebrate a South African wicket on Sunday. Pic/Getty Images

Though the South African team's focus is on preparing for the T20I World Cup which starts in Australia on Sunday, the importance of the ODI series against a second-string Indian side is not lost on them. It is pertinent for them to clinch the series by winning the third and final match at Kotla in Delhi to bag valuable points in their bid to get a direct qualification in the ICC Cricket World Cup (50 overs) to be held in India next year.

Despite India playing their second-string team, South Africa just about managed to overcome them in the first ODI in Lucknow by nine runs, before the hosts hit back strongly, thanks to a superb century by Shreyas Iyer, and leveled the series 1-1 with a seven-wicket win in Ranchi, making this Delhi fixture the decider.

Also Read: Shreyas Iyer's ton makes it 1-1

World Cup qualification race

South Africa are currently 11th in the World Cup qualification race, having won just five of their 15 games. They need to finish in the top eight to earn a direct ticket to the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup. For that, they need to be on a winning streak to improve their ODI ranking.

India, on the other hand, have overtaken New Zealand in the points table with their win in Ranchi. Winning the series will further bolster their ranking. But then points do not matter much to the Men in Blue as they have already qualified for the ICC World Cup being hosts. Nonetheless, the Indian team comprising fringe and upcoming players would be keen to win the series by putting up a solid performance just like they did in Ranchi, and also prove their form and fitness to the national selectors.

With a spate of injuries, some of the Indian players realise that they could get a chance to be picked for the T20I World Cup even at this late stage. The most prominent among them is Shreyas Iyer, one of the four on standby in case any of the current India players in Australia sustain injuries. That is the immediate aim of players like Shreyas and pacer Mohammed Siraj - to be ready to fly to Australia on short notice. Meanwhile, in the longer run, there is no doubt that most of the other players like Ishan Kishan, Sanju Samson, Shubman Gill and even skipper Shikhar Dhawan, besides Shreyas would be eyeing a spot in the ODI team not only for the forthcoming series, but also for the ICC World Cup next year.

Confidence-boosting win

Even with second-string players, India are formidable opponents and it would require South Africa to be on top of their game to clinch the series in Delhi. Though their players have shown a lot of fighting spirit and gumption, somehow they fell short in the T20I series. They would like to stamp their authority in the final ODI encounter so that they travel to Australia with some confidence.

Also Read: IND v SA, 1st ODI: Samson, Iyer fifties in vain as India lose to South Africa by nine runs

As for India, after the winning knock, Shreyas was confidence personified. "I'm ecstatic, to be honest [with the century in Ranchi]. Monday was a travel day and then Tuesday is another match. I'm really motivated by that. Let's see what's in store for me and the team. I am not someone who changes according to the bowler. I am someone who changes on instinct. It's not something I try in the nets first. I try and change it in the match itself," Shreyas said about his gameplan for the Delhi match.