Former India player turned veteran commentator Aakash Chopra feels South Africa and India have been playing a great cricket than any of the other teams in the World Cup 2023 so far. However, South Africa will play against the Netherlands in Dharamsala on Tuesday, October 17. They are currently placed third in the standings and a win against the Dutch could take them to the top of the points table as well.
Previewing the game in a video shared on his YouTube channel, Chopra said: “South Africa have become a good team to watch because they are playing extremely excitable and interesting cricket. Quinton de Kock – two hundreds in two matches, Rassie van der Dussen has been amazing, Aiden Markram – a hundred and a fifty in two matches, killer (David) Miller – outstanding and Heinrich Klaasen.”
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The former India opener further added: “Temba Bavuma hasn’t scored runs thus far and it seems like he will also do that today. They will once again show you extremely exciting and entertaining batting because they are going in a different league. New Zealand have also won three matches but India and South Africa are playing a different level of cricket.”
However, Aakash Chopra also added South Africa will not play two spinners in Dharamsala. He expects Gerald Coetzee to be back in the playing XI to form a four-pronged seam attack along with Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi as well. He also added that the Netherlands are playing well and they should bat first if win the toss.
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“They have the Netherlands in front of them. They are not a bad team. Vikramjit Singh played well in one match. Max O’Dowd hasn’t fired thus far. Scott Edwards bats well. Bas de Leede scored 67 runs in the first match,” Aakash Chopra concluded. “Bat first if you win the toss, don’t chase, because if you decide to bowl first, you might end up chasing 400. Their bowling is good, they have Bas de Leede, Paul van Meekeren, Logan van Beek, Aryan Dutt and Roelof van der Merwe, but the opposing team is extremely strong.”
