AB de Villiers missed the first three ODIs with a finger injury

Image courtesy of: Zimbio

South Africa will welcome back batsman AB de Villiers for the last three ODIs against India after he missed the first three games with a finger injury.

However, a decision on De Villiers’ availability for the fourth ODI in Johannesburg will only be taken after a practice session on Friday.

De Villiers was a huge loss to the Proteas prior to the ODI series, but things only got worse for the hosts as they also lost captain Faf du Plessis and wicketkeeper-batsman Quinton de Kock.

Du Plessis was diagnosed with a fractured right index finger and will miss the remainder of the limited overs series against India. De Kock has also been ruled out for the rest of the series after sustaining a wrist injury.

South Africa have been dismantled by India’s spin duo of Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav, who have taken 21 wickets between them in the first three ODIs.

While it has been Déjà vu for South Africa in the first three matches of the six-match ODI series, all-rounder JP Duminy admitted that De Villiers’ return will be a “massive boost”.

South Africa will be trying to avoid a series loss in the fourth ODI, but there is history on the line too as they will be playing the match in pink to raise awareness of breast cancer. There have been five pink ODIs to date and the Proteas have triumphed in every single one of them. A loss to India would see their unbeaten streak snapped.

The fourth ODI will be held on February 10.

South Africa’s ODI squad: Aiden Markram (capt), Hashim Amla, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Imran Tahir, David Miller, Morne Morkel, Chris Morris, Lungi Ngidi, Andile Phehlukwayo, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Khaya Zondo, Farhaan Behardien, Heinrich Klaasen (wk).