5 Underrated Players in The India–South Africa Series

Five underrated players in the India - South Africa series that can make a huge difference.

Quinton de Kock raises his bat after hitting the winning runs in the quarter-final game against Sri Lanka. (Photo: Reuters)

1. Quinton de Kock

The 23-year-old aggressive left-handed opener would be a treat to watch in T20s. He has a wonderful record against India.

The exquisite timer of the ball Quinton, has set a World record of scoring three tons in a row in 2013 against India, in a three match ODI series. Quinton is one of the most impactful batsmen who can demoralise the Indian bowling attack.

2. Gurkeerat Mann Singh

Gurkeerat Mann Singh. (Photo Courtesy: Gurkeerat Mann Singh Twitter)

The 25-year-old middle-order right-handed batsman, who plays for Punjab could be a find for India. His ability to bowl off-breaks, would strengthen the Indian bowling line-up for the ODI series against South Africa. The flamboyant cricketer who is acrobatic on the field had earned his name after playing some crucial knocks in the IPL for the Kings XI Punjab.

His recent all-round performance of 65 (58) and 5 for 29 which led India A to a 96-run win over Bangladesh A in the first one dayer of the series must have caught the selectors’ eye.

3. Sreenath Aravind

Sreenath Aravind. (Photo Courtesy: BCCI Twitter)

The 31-year-old Sreenath Aravind earned a call to India’s One Day International squad for the series against England in October 2011. Arvind became an instant star after claiming 21 wickets in 13 matches, which included best figures of 4/14.

4. Khaya Zondo

Khaya Zondo. (Photo Courtesy: Khaya Zondo Twitter)

The newcomer Khaya Zondo had the second best batting average of 38.50 (after Quinton de Kock) for South Africa A in the recently concluded triangular ODI series in India.

Zondo is an adamant middle-order batsman who plays for Dolphins in South Africa and can bowl a bit when needed. Zondo had the best strike rate of 106.94 in the series.

5. Kagiso Rabada

Kagiso Rabada. (Photo: Reuters)

The lanky 21-year-old fast bowler Kagiso Rabada, who made his T20 debut against Australia in 2014, is the player to watch out for in the South African team. Rabada was considered as the most feared bowler in the U-19 arena.

He is featuring in both T20 and ODI squad of Proteas. He had made a historic ODI debut against Bangladesh in July this year, when he claimed 6 for 16 which is the best figures by any bowler on debut.
(The author is a journalism student and a cricket blogger from Kashmir.)