Depleted hosts face ODI test

JAIPUR: No Yuvraj, no Gambhir, no Harbhajan, no Zaheer. It couldn't get worse for India, who take on South Africa in the first ODI of a three-match series at the Sawai Mansingh Stadium on Sunday.
With stakes so high, India skipper MS Dhoni, who hasn't faced such injury crisis in a home series before, needs to ponder over the playing XI given the fact that the South Africans have only to deal with the absence of regular skipper Graeme Smith.
The pitch at the stadium, which is hosting an international after a gap of more than two years, is loaded in the batsman's favour and given the short 75-yard boundary lines, the day-nighter is certain to be a high-scoring affair.
India are likely to go in with the remaining tried and tested personnel, which may see Ravindra Ashwin warming the bench with Yusuf Pathan and Ravindra Jadeja getting a look-in on a surface which both should be familiar with, having represented the Rajasthan Royals in the first edition of the IPL.
Sachin Tendulkar is set to partner Virender Sehwag at the top with Virat Kohli, Suresh Raina, Dhoni, Yusuf and Abhishek Nayar manning the middle order. In the bowling department, the pace trio of Ashish Nehra, S Sreesanth and Praveen Kumar are certain to get the nod. Dhoni may call upon Jadeja, Yusuf and Nayar to make up for the remaining overs.
Meanwhile, the Jacques Kallis-led South Africa will have to decide their opening combination in the absence of Smith. Loots Bosman may partner in-form Hashim Amla, who has been asked to stay with the ODI squad. Herschelle Gibbs, Kallis and AB de Villiers will fulfill the middle-order duties for visitors with all-rounder Albie Morkel and Mark Boucher coming lower down. Boucher is expected to be fit for the game.
The series presents the visitors the opportunity to climb up a rung to No. 2 and push India to No. 3.