South Africa and India will resume their one-day rivalry when the two sides meet for the fourth ODI of the six-match series at the Wanderers in Durban on Saturday.
We look at the key talking points ahead of the all-important clash with India leading 3-0.
SELLOUT CROWD FOR PINKDAY
Since its inception in 2011, the PinkDay has become a permanent fixture in South Africa’s cricketing calendar. Incorporated to raise awareness about breast cancer, the special day has seen tickets being snapped up like hotcakes and a sellout Wanderers crowd will welcome the two sides when they take the field.
The hosts will line up in their all-pink jerseys for the special occasion.
INDIA ON THE CUSP OF HISTORIC SERIES WIN
Ever since their first ODI tour of South Africa in 1992-93, India have played four bilateral series against the Proteas in their own backyard. They have tasted defeat in every single one of them. Having taken an unassailable 3-0 lead, this will be the first time that they will avoid a series defeat on South African shores.
However, their minds will be fixated on sealing India’s maiden ODI series win in South Africa, a feat which shall be truly historic for Virat Kohli’s men.
AB DE VILLIERS RETURN BOOSTS PROTEAS
The Proteas were dealt a major blow before the start of the series when they lost AB De Villiers to injury for the first half of the series. Things went from bad to worse when skipper Faf du Plessis and Quinton de Kock joined him on the injury-list.
De Villiers has returned from his injury lay-off and his participation for Saturday has been confirmed. The hosts desperately need their maverick batsman back and will be hoping his return can reignite their floundering hopes in the series.
SOUTH AFRICA SEEK END TO SPIN-TWINS MISERY
Twenty-one of the 28 South African wickets to fall in the three matches so far have been snared up by India’s wrist spin-twins in Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav. The duo has exposed the hosts’ weakness against the spinning ball in the absence of their senior stalwarts.
The fact they have not been able to devise a way to negate the threat of the spinners in three matches so far shows they are yet to get a grip on the spin-twins. Aiden Markram’s men will be hoping that De Villiers’ return can provide some relief in this department come Saturday.