All-time combined India-South Africa ODI XI

India and South Africa have fought some epic ODI battles in the last two decades. Both the nations have played some hard-fought cricket on the field which has entertained the fans from both the nations. There has been no shortage of skill and determination from both the sides whenever these two teams have met on the cricketing field.The reason behind these epic battles is the quality of players from both the sides.The fast bowling battery from South Africa against a long quality Indian batting lineup has all the ingredients for a mouth-watering contest.So let’s try and envisage an ODI XI with stars combined from both the teams in our all-time combined Ind-SA ODI XI.

#1 Sachin Tendulkar

Tendulkar will open the innings

One name that will remain constant in any ODI XI that will contain players from India is Sachin Ramesh Tendulkar. Arguably the best batsman world has ever seen after Sir Don Bradman, no eulogy seems sufficient for the master blaster.

Tendulkar opened the innings for India in 344 matches. He scored 15310 runs at an average of 48.29 with 45 ODI centuries. Against South Africa, Sachin played 57 ODIs and scored 2001 runs at an average of 35.73.

The first double hundred in ODIs by the great man also came against the Proteas.What is amazing about the great man is that his record didn’t take a beating even after playing so many matches. He will lead the batting in our team.

#2 Hashim Amla

Hashim Amla has an exceptional ODI record

Hashim Amla and Sourav Ganguly were the two contenders for this spot. But Amla’s exceptional record, though in lesser number of matches, has pipped him ahead of Ganguly in the race. Though people would argue that Amla hasn’t seen a bad patch still in his ODI career, his record is too good to ignore.

Amla has played 117 matches as an opener and scored 5894 runs which includes 21 centuries at an exceptional average of 54.37.Against India, Amla has been brilliant.He has scored 654 runs in 13 ODIs at an average of 54.50.He has been a prolific run scorer for the Proteas in the last few years and would give company to Sachin as an opening partner.

#3 Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli averages 35.45 against South Africa in ODIs

The talented and aggressive young Indian star would take the coveted number three spot in the team.The best ODI batsman for India in the last five years, he has scored heaps of runs to get in this combined XI.

Kohli has played 105 matches at number three and scored 4520 runs at an average of 50.22. He has 15 centuries to his credit at the number three spot. Against South Africa, he has played 14 ODIs and scored 390 runs at an average of 35.45. One of the shining stars of the future, he has done enough in his young career to make this combined X1.

#4 Jacques Kallis

Jacques Kallis will form the backbone of the middle-order

One of the best all-rounders of the game, Jacques Kallis will shoulder the responsibility of the middle order in the team.The backbone of South African batting for years, he will also form the backbone of this batting lineup.

Kallis played 328 matches and scored 11579 runs, he also managed to pick up 273 wickets. At the number four position, he played 79 matches and scored 2710 runs at an average of 45.93.

Against India Kallis took his game to another level. In 37 ODIs against them he scored 1535 runs at an average of 61.40. He also picked up 31 wickets. His record speaks a great deal about his talent and it is no surprize to see him in this team.

#5 AB de Villiers

Is there a shot de Villiers cannot play?

AB de Villiers is probably the best entertainer across all formats in the game.He has got all the shots in the book and many more outside the book. The obliteration of Dale Steyn by his batting in the IPL was a sight to behold.

He has played 190 matches and scored 8045 runs at an average of 53.27. At number five he has played 34 matches and scored 1689 runs at a mammoth average of 84.45. His highest score of 162* came at the number five spot.

Against India, he has played 23 ODIs and scored 921 runs at an average of 46.05. His record is equally good against Indians in both home and away conditions with averages of 76 and 43.45 in away and home conditions respectively. Considering his abilities, he should make any XI that has South African players.

#6 MS Dhoni (Captain)

MS Dhoni will lead this team

MS Dhoni will take the wicket-keeper batsman's spot in the team.One of the best finishers of the game, he will be an invaluable asset of every team that he is apart of. He can take apart any bowling attack when he is on song.

MS has played 127 ODIs while batting at number six and scored 3571 runs at an average of 45.78. His highest score batting at number six is 139*. In 24 ODIs against the South Africans, he has scored 515 runs at an average of 27.10. He will definitely like to improve his record against the Proteas in the upcoming series. The 2011 World Cup winning captain will also lead this side.

#7 Lance Klusener

Klusener could thrash any bowling attack

The number seven spot was a face-off between Kapil Dev and Lance Klusener. It was Lance Klusener’s hard hitting abilities at an average of above 40 in his ODI career that made him win the battle against the best ever Indian allrounder.

Klusener played 171 ODIs in his career and scored 3576 runs at an average of 41.10. He also picked up 192 wickets at an average of 29.95. His memorable performances in the 1999 World Cup are still fresh in his fans’ memory.

Klusener has played 23 ODIs against the Indians and scored 313 runs at an average of 26.08. He has also picked up 31 wickets. He will be the allrounder alongside Kallis in the team.

#8 Shaun Pollock

Shaun Pollock averaged 21.6 with the bat and 24.8 with the ball against India

The accurate line and length seamer from South Africa will take the number eight spot in the team.His hitting abilities are an added bonus to the team.One of the best ever South African bowlers, Pollock will be an invaluable asset to this team.

Pollock played 303 ODIs and picked up 393 wickets at an average of 24.50. He also scored 3519 runs at an average of 26.45. Against India Pollock played 33 ODIs and scored 238 runs at an average of 21.63. He also picked up 48 wickets at an average of 24.47. His record suggests him to be a handy all-rounder and thus he takes his spot in our team.

#9 Allan Donald

Allan Donald could obliterate any batting lineup

‘White Lightening’ as he was called, Allan Donald was the face of the South African team when they returned to international cricket. Shaping the ball away at electric pace, he could trouble any batsman in the world.

Allan Donald played 164 ODIs and picked up 272 wickets at an average of 21.78. His strike was also pretty good at 31.4. Against India Donald’s record was equally impressive. He played 26 ODIs against the Indians and picked up 46 wickets at an average of 21.15. Even against India in their own conditions, he was lethal and picked up 18 wickets in 9 ODIs when he played in India.

One of the finest South African bowler ever, Donald could destroy any batting lineup with his sheer pace and movement.

#10 Zaheer Khan

Zaheer Khan takes the third seamer’s spot in the team

Zaheer Khan was the reason behind the success of Indian team’s bowling in 2011 World Cup. His skills with the ball took India to its second ODI World Cup. He will be the third seamer in our team.

The other three competitors for this position were Javagal Srinath, Dale Steyn and Makhaya Ntini. But it was Zaheer Khan’s record even in challenging conditions and his left arm angle that made him win the race. Zaheer has played 200 ODIs in his career and picked up 282 wickets at an average of 29.43.

Against South Africa, Zaheer has played 17 ODIs and picked up 22 wickets at an average of 27.90. He will be an ideal bowler to accompany Donald and Pollock in the team.

#11 Anil Kumble

Anil Kumble will be the only specialist spinner in the team

Anil Kumble will be the lone spinner in the team.The highest Indian wicket-taker in tests, Kumble was more than a handful in the ODIs as well.His fast leg spinners were tough to manage and on a spinning track he was unplayable on numerous occasions.

Kumble played 271 ODIs and picked up 337 wickets at an average of 30.89. Against South Africa, Kumble played 40 ODIs and picked up 46 wickets at an average of 32.00. In Indian conditions, he picked up wickets prolifically. His accurate fast leg spin could choke any batsman and ‘Jumbo’ is a fitting addition to our team.