IND vs SA ODIs 2025-26: India lack strong engine room at the backend (no. 6-8) unlike SA

IND vs SA 2025-26: India’s lower middle order (6-8) fails to fire, highlighting a major gap compared to South Africa’s solid depth.

In the first couple of games of the ongoing three-match ODI series between India and South Africa, there wasn’t a massive difference between their top five batters. India stacked up 540 runs at an average of 60 and a strike rate of 111.34, with three centuries and two half-centuries. The visitors kept themselves in the contest with 404 runs at 40.40 and a strike rate of 104.12,powered by three half-centuries and one century.

But the contrast between the two sides was in theircontributions from number six to eight. Despite a strong platform fromthe top five, India were unable to finish the innings well. Moreover, the dew didn’t help their bowlers to defend the score. The Blue Brigade could have also lost the opening game in Ranchi had they not picked up three wickets inside the first five overs.

India’s number 6-8 have failed to impress in ongoing home series against South Africa
South Africa’s number six to eight in the batting department have contributed 222 runs in this series. Their strike rate of 152.05 was really impressive with two half-centuries. Meanwhile, India have battled hard for their 120 runs at a strike rate of just over 100.

Read More: KL Rahul a reluctant skipper?

India and South Africa’s number 6-8 with bat in ongoing 2025 series

In Ranchi, the hosts got 95 runs from their number six to eight at a strike rate of 121.79. On the other hand, the Proteas got 174 runs at a strike rate of 147.45, despite being restricted to 77/4 in 15 overs.

The same story continued even in Raipur in the second game. South Africa’s number six to eight piled up the runs at a strike rate of 171.42, in comparison to India’s corresponding strike rate of 71.42. This shows the mark defence between the two sides’ lower middle order.

This isn’t a new issue for the 2025 Champions Trophy winners. Since the beginning of 2024, India have the third-worst performance among Test-playing nations from their number six to eight in ODIs. They have collected only 714 runs in 40 innings at 25.50 with a strike rate of under 100.

Read More: IND vs SA 2025-26, 2nd ODI: Kohli, Gaikwad tons go in vains; SA go level 1-1

Test playing nations’ performance for number 6-8 in ODIs since Jan 2024

The Indian management has used 10 players for the number six to eight position in the ODI batting department in the last 24 months. KL Rahul is the leading run-getter in this category with 292 runs in 11 innings at an average of 36.50.

Top five run-getters for India’s number 6-8 in ODIs since Jan 2024

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IPL’s impact player rule hurts India’s ODI planning
Due to the impact player rule in IPL, India have struggled to find their proper contributors at number six to eight in ODIs. South Africa don’t have the issue with SA20 not applying the same rule. That’s why the likes of Corbin Bosch and Marco Jansen have come through the ranks.

In the ongoing series, Bosch has scored 96 runs in two innings at a strike rate of 145.45. Meanwhile, Jansen pocketed 72 runs at a strike rate of 175.60. This made a huge impact on their batting at number six to eight. On the other hand, KL Rahul and Ravindra Jadeja have struggled to cross the strike rate of 120 at number six to eight.

Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma echoed the same sentiment against the IPL impact player rule in the past. Both reckoned that it would harm India’s international cricket. And it has somehow become the reality.

Moreover, South Africa got the advantage of dew in both clashes. The home spinners struggled to grip the ball, while the fast bowlers also faced issues. For India, once the new rule of using one preferred ball was activated after 34 overs, batting became tough in the backend. The spinners came more into the contest with the change of pace.

Heading into the third ODI, the hosts will need to make improvements in their batting performance at number six to eight. They may look to include Nitish Reddy in place of Washington Sundar. The latter managed only 14 runs and had combined figures of 0/46 in seven overs across two innings.

With the series sitting on a 1-1 margin, the third ODI will be a decider. It will take place on December 06 at the ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium in Visakhapatnam.

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