World Cup 2015: Can 'Team India' Be Fourth Time Lucky To Break The Jinx Against 'South Africa'?

When India take on South Africa at the Melbourne Cricket Ground on Sunday, Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Co will have a little factoid playing on their minds: they have never beaten South Africa in an ICC World Cup match.

Not even when they went on to win the World Cup, as they had failed to beat the Proteas in a group match at Nagpur (2011).  Adelaide (1992) and Hove (1999) were no different.

That all the three encounters were memorably tight matches, with the South Africans chasing down the runs with only a few balls to spare, would be no consolation.


And as for the law of averages catching up, let's remember that India retained its unblemished record against Pakistan in World Cups when it defeated them by 76 runs on February 15 to register their sixth win against their old rivals.

And just in case anyone wanted not to think about it, Star Sports decided to follow up their earlier ad mocking the misery of an ageing Pakistani fan, waiting in vain to celebrate his team's win over India in all these successive World Cups, with a cruel reminder to India: with the South Africans handing over a box of firecrackers to Indian fans and chanting, “Mauka Mauka” over and over again this time around:

The riposte by Indian fans, pointing out that their team has won the Cup twice, unlike the opponents who haven't ever, would possibly not be of much consolation:

To understand the context, perhaps it is time to revisit the three past encounters:

• Adelaide (1992): In the 1992 World Cup, the match was reduced to 30 over a side due to rain. South Africa won the toss and, owing to the damp outfield, decided to field. India batted well and scored 180 runs for the loss of six wickets in their 30 overs. Mohammad Azharuddin top scored with 79 runs off 77 balls. South Africa came out with all guns blazing. The first wicket partnership of 128 runs between Andrew Hudson and Peter Kirsten laid a solid platform and South Africa comfortably won the match by six wickets.
• Hove (1999): The match didn't get curtailed this time, but India batted first once again. Sourav Ganguly and Sachin Tendulkar opened the batting. It was the second wicket partnership of 130 runs between Ganguly and Rahul Dravid that steered the innings. India ended the innings at 253/5 wickets. South Africa were reeling at 68/3 but Jacques Kallis’s 96 took South Africa over the line with 16 balls to spare. Here is Sourav Ganguly scoring 97.
• Nagpur (2011): For the third time in a row, India batted first, this time with Virender Sehwag and Sachin Tendulkar. A fabulous opening partnership of 142 runs, with Tendulkar scoring 111, helped India to a challenging 296. South Africa started cautiously and lost wickets at regular intervals. In the end, Johan Botha’s 23 runs off 15 balls and Robin Peterson’s 18 runs off 7 runs, helped South Africa roll over the line with just two balls to spare.

Look out for India’s batting versus South Africa’s bowling to be the highlight of the contest. And remember that since 2013, India has won more One-Day Internationals when chasing than any other team.