IND vs SA 2022-23 ODIs: 5 learnings from the series

Team India was competitive and came out on top during the recently-ended three-match One-Day International (ODI) series against South Africa at home. The hosts clinched the series 2-1 with a second-string side against the full-strength visitors. The series saw quite a few of the young Indians deliver under the leadership of senior opener Shikhar Dhawan. Notably, he remains unbeaten as the skipper in the format and is in contention for the role in the future. Meanwhile, we look at the performance of both sides and present the five learning from it.

Shreyas Iyer is a force to reckon with in limited-overs
Iyer has been brushed aside from the Indian squad for the ICC T20 World Cup 2022 in Australia, starting Sunday, as he has struggled with the short balls lately. However, he presented a different version of himself in the ODIs. He tactfully played the short deliveries by playing them on the back foot and slamming a century in the Ranchi ODI. Thus, a player of Iyer's calibre can never be written off, especially in the limited overs.

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Mohammed Siraj is a proper candidate for T20WC
Siraj is on the reserve list of players travelling Down Under for the T20WC. However, given his performance in the SA ODIs, he deserves a spot in the leading Indian squad for the mega event. While he seized five in three at an economy of 4.53, his ability to swing the ball and hold up runs is what India might need in Australia.

Kuldeep Yadav is back to his best
Chinaman spinner Kuldeep has been out of the Indian contention for about three years now. While the selectors decided to give him a chance in the SA ODIs, thanks to his excellent outing in the domestic circuit, he did not fail them, clasping six from three at 5.00. In contrast, his googlies troubled the batters, especially on slow tracks. Although he might not be best suited for the Australian wickets, he is likely to be given more chances ahead of the ICC World Cup 2023 in India.

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Is Temba Bavuma the right man to lead SA in T20WC?
It was not the ideal outing for Proteas on this tour. Moreover, a lot was expected out of skipper-cum-opener Temba Bavuma. However, he failed to deliver on the entire tour, including the three Twenty20 Internationals (T20Is), managing just 11 in four innings at a horrible average of 2.75 and a strike rate of 35.48, which also included a couple of ducks. Thus, it is sure to worry the selectors and wonder if he is the right man to lead SA in Down Under for the T20WC.

Three ideal candidates for SA T20WC captaincy
Changing the captain at the last minute before the T20WC is not a suggestion ideally delivered. However, given Bavuma's horrendous current form, the Proteas can consider making either Keshav Maharaj, David Miller or Heinrich Klaasen the skipper. The former two have done the same, especially in the last two ODIs against India. Although they suffered losses in the same, they have also been promising in the series regarding their performances.