In warm and humid Delhi, it could be South Africa’s batters vs Sri Lanka’s spinners

Big picture – Delhi conditions could be Sri Lanka’s friend

Sri Lanka could hardly have picked a tougher opponent to face first up at the World Cup than South Africa.

The Sri Lankans come into this game with big question marks over their batting and have an injury-weakened bowling attack; South Africa, in contrast, seem to be a well-oiled machine, primed for the flat tracks this World Cup is expected to offer.

Fortunately for Sri Lanka, this game is taking place in Delhi. On a pitch that is usually slow and crumbly, Sri Lanka have the right bowlers.

In their last 15 games, Sri Lanka have bowled out the opposition in 14. Sure, the ease with which both Bangladesh and Afghanistan brushed them aside in the warm-ups highlighted the task their bowlers are likely to face, but in Delhi, they might just have their way.

Form guide

South Africa WWWLL (last five completed matches, most recent first)
Sri Lanka LWLWW

In the spotlight: Markram and Theekshana

While Klaasen is undoubtedly South Africa’s man of the moment, ticking along with him has been Aiden Markram, who is in the midst of the best year of his ODI career. His 11 innings in 2023 have so far brought 577 runs at 64.11 and a strike rate of 119.70 – significantly above his career figures of 35.42 and 96.35 – to go with an equally impressive record in T20Is and Tests. He has the ability and resolve to navigate slow turners, which could prove crucial in Delhi, especially in the middle overs, where Sri Lanka throttle with spin so well. That Markram has a solid record against Sri Lanka – second only to his record against Australia among Test-playing nations – is a bonus. If the Delhi surface is conducive to turn, Markram’s experience could be massive.

Maheesh Theekshana has only ever played one ODI against South Africa. It was his debut, and he picked up 4 for 37 to take Sri Lanka to a 78-run win. Since then, Theekshana has gone from strength to strength, with 2023 in particular seeing him become a lynchpin in Sri Lanka’s attack – he has 31 wickets this year so far. A hamstring injury kept him out of the Asia Cup final and Sri Lanka’s two warm-up games, but a fit and firing Theekshana could provide just the edge Sri Lanka need.

Team news

South Africa’s batting pretty much picks itself when everyone is fully fit, but it’s in the bowling where there’s a bit of uncertainty. While Maharaj is a shoo-in, if they do choose to go with Shamsi as an extra spin option, Phelukwayo could make way.

South Africa (probable XI): 1 Temba Bavuma (capt), 2 Quinton de Kock (wk), 3 Rassie van der Dussen, 4 Aiden Markram, 5 Heinrich Klaasen, 6 David Miller, 7 Marco Jansen, 8 Gerald Coetzee, 9 Andile Phelukwayo/Tabraiz Shamsi, 10 Keshav Maharaj, 11 Kagiso Rabada

Sri Lanka would have been sweating on Perera’s fitness after he seemed to tweak his shoulder in their warm-up game against Bangladesh, but there’s optimism that he’ll be passed fit. If he misses out, Dimuth Karunaratne will likely take his place at the top. Theekshana is also expected to return to the line-up having recovered from a hamstring injury.

Sri Lanka (probable XI): 1 Kusal Perera, 2 Pathum Nissanka, 3 Kusal Mendis (wk), 4 Sadeera Samarawickrama, 5 Charith Asalanka, 6 Dhananjaya de Silva, 7 Dasun Shanaka (capt), 8 Dunith Wellalage, 9 Maheesh Theekshana, 10 Dilshan Madushanka, 11 Lahiru Kumara

Pitch and conditions

Spin in particular could prove useful in Delhi, unlike in other parts of India, and it’s traditionally not been a high-scoring venue – 300 had been topped only twice in ODIs, and last in 2011. The weather is expected to be hot and humid with highs of around 37 degrees Celsius, so batting first might be the play.

Quotes