Du Plessis expects India to reverse lop-sided record in Durban

TIL Desk Sports/ South Africa captain Faf du Plessis, on Wednesday, acknowledged that it will be tough to beat India in the six-match ODI series starting on Thursday and said the visitors’ poor record Durban in the 50-over format will not be much of a factor.

India have won only 5 out of 27 ODIs they have played against the Proteas in South Africa. They have never won a bilateral series in Durban or beaten South Africa at the venue in ODI cricket.

“I think it (the poor record) tells a story. It means that there is something difficult for touring teams to come here and get accustomed to. But as I mentioned before the Test series, I feel like this Indian cricket team has got the names on paper to challenge that and get some victories in South Africa.

“They have proved that in the Test series and they are a quality team. So I expect the same (challenge and intensity) in the ODIs coming up,” said du Plessis on Wednesday.

South Africa won the Test series 2-1, but the Indian bowlers gave a good account of themselves picking all 60 wickets on offer. Du Plessis felt that this would be a factor in the ODI series as well, in both pace and spin, with India bringing fresh leg of spinners into the mix.