Current India-South Africa combined XI

Aside from the two host nations, India and South Africa were seen as many peoples favourites to win the World Cup. Both these sides meet on Sunday, in a clash that is likely to decide who finishes first and faces the fourth-placed side in Group A. Although the Proteas have the upper hand, when it comes to World Cup clashes between the two sides, Sundays mouth-watering clash is likely to be a close-run encounter.Both sides are packed with quality players, but who will get into a combined XI featuring the very best from both sides? The likes of Virat Kohli, AB de Villiers, Hashim Amla and MS Dhoni are certainties, but how will the side line up?Here is how a combined XI from both sides would look like.

#1 Rohit Sharma

While it is true that at times, he can be a little hit and miss, but when he does get going, there are few in international cricket that are capable of stopping him. Although he has played just a dozen games in the last 12 months, Rohit Sharma has a double century to his name, his second and the only cricketer to have two.

Rohit averages over 50 and with a strike rate of almost 95, it is not hard to see why much of India’s success in this World Cup, hinges on him. And the player, they call “Hit Man” has already started to show signs that he is ready to take his debut World Cup by storm.

#2 Hashim Amla

If there is one word, that described Hashim Amla better than anything else, it is consistency. There aren’t many openers who are as consistently effective as Amla is. In the last year, the 31-year-old has scored close to 900 runs at an average of over 50.

Given his solid technique and lack of power, many thought that he would be like a fish out of water in ODIs, But the current No.2 ranked ODI batsman has shown that timing and the right temperament is all you need in ODIs and having missed out in the first match of the World Cup, you can be sure that he will be raring to go against India on Sunday.

#3 Virat Kohli

After a horrible tour of England, many were starting to question whether Virat Kohli had what it takes to play in tricky, overseas conditions. His performances in the recently concluded Test series against Australia showed that his bad form was just a minor blip in what was otherwise been a stellar ODI career so far.

The No.3 slot is arguably the most important and difficult spot to nail down, but the 26-year-old has done so with consummate ease. Having already got off to a flyer, with a century in the opening game against Pakistan, Kohli will be looking to continue his good run against Dale Steyn and co.

#4 Faf du Plessis

There aren’t too many cricketers, especially batsman who shine all across three formats and have the technique and the temperament to adapt to different situations. But Faf du Plessis is one of those select group of batsman, who has shown that whether it is tests, ODIs, or T20s, he has the arsenal to cope with it all.

Although his past few ODI innings haven’t been great, you don’t score 790 runs, average over 50 and strike at close to 90 in the last year, without being good. The Proteas will be hoping that du Plessis can find his form soon as they will certainly need him, especially in the latter stages of the tournament.

#5 AB de Villiers

Humans aren’t supposed to have 360-degree vision, but with a bat in his hand, it looks as though AB de Villiers does. After all, how else, do you explain his innings against West Indies just over a month ago when he scored the fastest-ever century in the history of ODIs.

With Brendon McCullum smashing the record for the fastest World Cup fifty against England on Friday, you can be certain that the No.1 ranked ODI batsman in the world, will have that on the back of his mind and look to go one better than the Kiwi skipper before the end of this tournament. Averaging a stunning 73.25 and striking at over 110 in the last 12 months, de Villiers is certainly on the right track.

#6 MS Dhoni

What more can be said of MS Dhoni that hasn’t been said already. While his explosive hitting lifted him into the limelight, his calm demeanour and leadership skills have come to the forefront ever since guiding India to the T20 World Cup in 2007. Since then, Dhoni has gone on to lift the ODI World Cup, Champions Trophy and guide India to No.1 in the Test rankings.

His batting still remains an integral asset and although he scored plenty of runs in the last 18 months, he has shown time and again that when the going gets tough, he gets going. One of the best finishers to have ever played ODIs, MSD keeps wicket and captains this combined XI.

His batting still remains an integral asset and although he scored plenty of runs in the last 18 months, he has shown time and again that when the going gets tough, he gets going. One of the best finishers to have ever played ODIs, MSD keeps wicket and captains this combined XI.

#7 Ravichandran Ashwin

Economical and effective, Ravichandran Ashwin doesn’t always get the credit his bowling deserves, especially in the ODIs and T20s. Time and again, the Tamil Nadu off-spinner has shown that he can be incredibly difficult to get away. Often left to do the dirty work in the middle overs, Ashwin seems to have mastered the art of containment and although he doesn’t always get the wickets, he ensures, through his tight spells that the chances of wickets increases at the other end.

A career economy rate of under 5 in ODIs is not something to be scoffed at and the 28-year-old, who is currently outside the top 20 in the ICC ODI bowlers rankings, will be hoping to making his way up throughout the tournament.

#8 Dale Steyn

In pace-friendly conditions in New Zealand, many thought that Dale Steyn will be one of the most difficult to get away, which is what makes his performance against Zimbabwe in the opener all the more surprising. But Steyn will be the first to admit that his performance against Zimbabwe was nowhere near good enough and he has to improve as the tournament wears on.

But the highest ranked ODI bowler playing in the World Cup has shown many times before that when it comes to crunch situations, he always delivers and the Proteas will count on him to deliver the knockout blow at the start and end of each innings with the ball.

#9 Mohammed Shami

Although the Indian bowling often come under scrutiny, Mohammed Shami has been one of the few bright sparks in an otherwise lacklustre pace bowling attack which has often undone all the good work done by the batsmen. Shami’s 33 wickets make him the leading wicket-taker in ODIs on either side in the last 12 months. His yorkers, sharp bouncers and a deceptive slower ball, make him one of India’s main death-bowling assets.

Although he has been a mainstay of the Indian attack for the last couple of years, this World Cup represents the first time, he has been the spearhead of the pace attack and judging by his performance against Pakistan in the opening game, it looks as though he is enjoying it.

#10 Morne Morkel

Currently the No.10 ranked ODI bowler in the world, Morne Morkel has continued to trouble batsmen with the bounce he generates, ever since he made his debut almost a decade ago. Although the speedster, isn’t always the most economical, his ability to create doubt in the batsmen’s mind, with the variable bounce he generates has made him an invaluable asset in the Proteas pace machine.

Not only is he capable of bouncing batsmen out, his pace and ability to swing the ball, means that he is handy on any type of wicket. Having recently passed the 150 wicket mark, the 30-year-old will be looking to make the most of the favorable conditions he will enjoy in Australia.

#11 Imran Tahir

If someone asks you who South Africa’s best ODI bowler is, you would probably say Steyn. And while you might not be wrong, statistically at least, over the last 12 months, it is Imran Tahir. The 27-year-old leg-spinner has been one of SA’s main threats in ODIs. While many look at their pace attack and are immediately terrified, it is the spinner who has been getting the most joy as a result.

With a career economy rate of under 4.5, Tahir has not only been getting wickets but has also proven to be miserly as well. His spells in the middle overs, end up getting the Proteas crucial wickets, which is then exploited by the likes of Steyn and co. towards the end.