India Prepares for Decisive ODI Against South Africa Amid Dew Challenges

India's Strategy for the Final ODI

Visakhapatnam (Andhra Pradesh) - As India gears up for the final ODI against South Africa, assistant coach Ryan Ten Doeschate discussed the team's preparations to address the dew factor, which previously aided South Africa in chasing down a daunting target of 359 in Raipur. Following a disappointing Test series loss at home to the same team, there is a palpable urgency to secure victory in the ODI segment of the series.

With the series tied at 1-1, both India and South Africa, boasting formidable batting line-ups, are set to deliver an exciting showdown on Saturday in Visakhapatnam. In the two ODIs played thus far, India has posted scores exceeding 340-350 runs after batting first, but these totals have not guaranteed safety against South Africa's explosive batting. The Proteas narrowly missed reaching 350 in the first ODI but successfully chased down 359 in the second, largely due to the dew affecting India's bowlers' grip on the wet ball.

During a pre-match press conference, as reported by a sports media outlet, Doeschate remarked, "We are attempting to quantify the dew factor, which can make a significant difference, estimated between 10 and 20 percent in terms of impact on the outcome."

He elaborated, "Initially, we considered 320 runs a par score, then raised our expectations to 350, and in Raipur, we thought 360 was a commendable target given the dew conditions. We are continuously discussing how to optimize our scoring and strategizing on the best approaches for our players."

Doeschate emphasized that the bowling unit is also diligently working on adapting to the wet conditions, focusing on how to defend substantial totals effectively.

"We are engaging in practical preparations, including bowlers practicing with wet balls. We are strategizing on how to achieve a premium score and determining the best bowling techniques when dew is present," he added.

When asked if an earlier match start time could mitigate the dew issue, Doeschate responded, "The dew tends to accumulate as the second innings progresses, so starting earlier might reduce its impact somewhat. However, there are numerous factors to consider, particularly regarding broadcasting schedules, making it a complex discussion."

Finally, addressing the pressure to win the ODI series following a 0-2 defeat in the Test matches, Doeschate concluded, "The team comprises different players, but everyone understands the weight of their representation. We always strive for victory, and after a few consecutive losses, there is certainly a strong desire to win the series tomorrow."

Squads:

India Squad: Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Ruturaj Gaikwad, KL Rahul(w/c), Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Harshit Rana, Kuldeep Yadav, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna, Rishabh Pant, Tilak Varma, Dhruv Jurel, Nitish Kumar Reddy

South Africa Squad: Aiden Markram, Quinton de Kock(w), Temba Bavuma(c), Matthew Breetzke, Dewald Brevis, Tony de Zorzi, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Keshav Maharaj, Nandre Burger, Lungi Ngidi, Ryan Rickelton, Ottneil Baartman, Rubin Hermann, Prenelan Subrayen.