Cricket World Cup 2023 IND vs SA | It’s unstoppable force versus immovable object

India vs. South Africa: Unbeaten India face stiff challenge from resurgent Proteas in Kolkata. India's unbeaten run faces a stiff challenge from South Africa's resurgent Proteas in Kolkata. India's batting powerhouses Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli lead the charge against South Africa's pace trio of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj and Mohammed Shami. South Africa's Quinton de Kock, Aiden Markram and Rassie van der Dussen have been in fine form. India's Shubman Gill and Shreyas Iyer have also been in good form. Winner of this key battle will be one step closer to the World Cup semifinal.

As old yellow taxis with their ‘no refusal’ signage rumbled on roads around the iconic Eden Gardens, the South Africans trained inside a venue where they have a historic connect. During the post-apartheid era, India welcomed back South Africa into the cricketing fold and on November 10, 1991, Clive Rice’s men tussled with the Men in Blue.

Kolkata showered unbridled affection upon the visitors and even though South Africa lost that ODI, it has built a fine legacy over the years. An ICC title remains elusive but in the current World Cup, after India, South Africa has been in terrific form despite the loss against the Netherlands.

Sunday’s clash between the host and Temba Bavuma’s men, is perhaps the biggest game of this premier championship even if India against Pakistan had an emotional resonance in Ahmedabad.

Leading into this key battle, South Africa has flourished while batting first and defeated Sri Lanka (by 102 runs), Australia (134), England (229), Bangladesh (149) and New Zealand (190). Quinton de Kock, with a tally of 545 runs, has been in remarkable touch and Aiden Markram and Rassie van der Dussen too have contributed while Heinrich Klaasen has flexed his batting muscle.

However, chasing has been a nervy issue as evident in the loss to the Netherlands and the narrow one-wicket victory over Pakistan. Among the bowlers, Marco Jansen, Gerald Coetzee, Keshav Maharaj and Kagiso Rabada have been among the wickets.

If the usual India angle involved its batters against rival bowlers, the converse would be the theme now as much would hinge on how the pace trio of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj and Mohammed Shami get through South Africa’s batting order.

Striding in undefeated, Rohit Sharma’s men have taken everything in their stride. Even if Saturday morning’s news-break involving seamer Prasidh Krishna replacing an injured Hardik Pandya meant that the unit’s all-round balance turned askew, the management has obviously embraced the aggressive ‘six batters, five bowlers’ theory.