Following an exciting albeit emotionally draining test series, India and South Africa are set to square off in an ODI series at the latter’s home turf. The first (and second) of the 3 matches will be played at Paarl’s Boland Park stadium, and that’s the match we will be previewing in this article. Read on to find out the pitch report and other relevant details for the first ODI at Boland Park, Paarl.
Team News
Even with regular captain Rohit Sharma sitting out the series with an injury, stand-in captain KL Rahul will have a selection headache of choosing his best partner. While Shikhar Dhawan provides a pedigreed option up-top, the likes of Ruturaj Gaikwad and Ishan Kishan could get the nod ahead of him owning to better form. Venkatesh Iyer also presents himself as a strong contender, but he’s almost certain to feature in the middle-order. Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant, and Venkatesh should round up the top 6 batting lineup.
Shardul Thakur seems to be a lock-in in the playing XI, especially considering the lack of notable all-rounders. Ravichandran Ashwin also stands in good stead of making his ODI comeback. Yuzvendra Chahal and Jasprit Bumrah pick themselves as the most experienced bowlers of the pack. A third, wicket-taking pacer would ideally round off the team, and it could be any one of Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, or Deepak Chahar.
South Africa will be playing their first white-ball assignment since the WT20 that concluded in March, so expect a fair amount of players to make a reappearance into this lineup. Captain Temba Bavuma will be opening alongside Quinton de Kock. Aiden Markram, Rassie van der Dussen, and David Miller slot in next, followed by a long tail of all-rounders. Dwaine Pretorius has looked really impressive in recent times, while Marco Jansen’s recent test exploits should serve him well in the LOI lineup.
Tabraiz Shamsi and Keshav Maharaj establish themselves as the team’s best spinners, while Kagiso Rabada picks himself as the leader of the attack. The last spot could be a toss-up between an extra fourth-pacer or a batsman like Janeman Malan- should the hosts decide to go for added batting stability.
Paarl Cricket Stadium ODI records
Teams defending have had a marginal advantage on this surface. Like most surfaces in the country, the pitch favors fast bowlers more despite the surprising fact that the leading wicket-taker on this ground is Anil Kumble (7 wickets in 3 innings), an overseas spinner. Expect good batting conditions on this venue to produce high-scoring matches.
| Total matches | 13 |
| Matches won batting first | 7 |
| Matches won bowling first | 5 |
| Average 1st Inns scores | 243 |
| Average 2nd Inns scores | 175 |
| Highest total recorded | 353/6 (50 Ov) by RSA vs BAN |
| Lowest total recorded | 36/10 (18.4 Ov) by Can vs SL |
| Highest score chased | 250/2 (48.5 Ov) by RSA vs SL |
| Lowest score defended | 204/10 (48.5 Ov) by IND vs NED |
Highest Individual score by a player: AB de Villiers (South Africa), 176 vs Bangladesh, 2017
Best Bowling figures: Eddo Brandes (Zimbabwe), 9.5-1-41-5 vs India, 1997
Match Details
India vs South Africa, first ODI
Venue: Boland Park, Paarl
Date: 19 January 2022, Wednesday
Time: 2:00 PM IST
Boland Park Paarl Pitch Report
The Boland Park surface presents itself as a high-scoring venue, with conducive best-suited for hit-the-deck pace bowling. Spinners who rely on turning the ball also enjoy the conditions here.
Paarl Weather Report during IND vs SA matches
Fans should expect bright and sunny weather, prime for enjoying a game of cricket on South African soil. There will be some South-flowing wind on the venue, so expect one-end of the stadium to be more optimal for bowling.