India vs South Africa Second ODI Match, 2018: Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane and Hashim Amla Amongst Key Players to Watch Out For in an Exciting Contest at Centurion

India vs South Africa rivalry has intensified in recent years. With the top spot in ICC ODI Team rankings up for the grabs, the top two sides in the world will again lock horns in the 2nd One Day International to establish their supremacy.

South Africa without Faf du Plessis and AB de Villiers will find it difficult to tackle the wrist-spin threat posed by Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav. The Proteas' batting line-up came to a cropper as none of the batsmen other than Skipper du Plessis able to contribute significantly. Proteas' skipper scored a vital hundred as he was dismissed on 120 runs in the last over of the innings.

In reply, both openers Rohit Sharma and Shikhar Dhawan failed to score big as both fell cheaply on 20 runs and 35 runs respectively. It was Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane's masterclass that saw Indian team sail home safely without any further hiccups.

We take a look at a list of key players who will matter the most to both the sides in the important 2nd ODI of the series.

1. Virat Kohli

The Indian captain would want to repeat his performance in the second ODI. Kohli has been the crux of Indian batting for a long time now. A lot of India's chances depend on how Kohli performs with the bat. If India wants to take a lead in the series, it would need Kohli to fire.

2. Ajinkya Rahane

Ajinkya Rahane, who was dropped for the first two Tests, reminded everyone class is permanent and form is temporary, with his performances. Rahane stitched a match-winning partnership with Captain Kohli in the first ODI and would be itching to continue his fine form in the second ODI.

3. Yuzvendra Chahal & Kuldeep Yadav

Both the spinners bamboozled the South African line-up with their skilful wrist spin in the previous ODI. The runs dried up in the middle overs when the spin-duo was in action. Come Sunday, South Arica will have to chalk out strategies to keep the threat posed by these two at bay. Both Chahal and Yadav are known to give flight to their deliveries, that makes difficult for batsmen to pick.

4. Hashim Amla

South Africa would want Hashim Amla to come good if they are to have any chance of coming back in the series. Amla was deceived by pace in the first ODI as he was trapped LBW by Jasprit Bumrah. In both du Plessis and de Villiers presence, Amla needs to anchor the innings and ensure that South African side do not crumble under pressure.

5. JP Duminy

One of the most experienced persons in the side, JP Duminy will have to shoulder a lot of responsibility. Duminy failed to read a Googly and lost his wicket to Kuldeep Yadav in the last ODI. South African fans would be rooting for Duminy to strike form in this match. Duminy is one of the better players of spin in Proteas' side. He will be itching to score big, on his comeback, after an initial failure in the first ODI.

India has the momentum on their side and will look to cash-in the absence of du Plessis and de Villiers. The Indian side will look to take a 2-0 lead in the six-match ODI series. The pitch at Centurion has always been a batsmen paradise with the average first innings score being 322. However, it will be exciting to see how the two top sides in the world adopt different strategies in their bid to win the second ODI. Stay tuned for all such updates about India vs South Africa ODI series, here.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 04, 2018 06:44 AM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).