‘South Africa will not be able to chase’- Former India player puts Australia way ahead of South Africa in ODI World Cup 2023 semi-final

India qualified for the finals by beating New Zealand by 70 runs in the ODI World Cup 2023 semi-final yesterday at Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai and now will be waiting to see who they will face in the finals at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad.

South Africa and Australia have been the arch-rivals in World cricket and have had some enticing encounters between them in the past. Both the teams have been playing quality cricket in the tournament but now it’s the knockout stages and the team who’ll lose from here will pack their bags and fly back home.

If we analyze their performances in the World Cup so far both the teams have won 7 matches out of the 9 matches they have played but South Africa possessed the edge over Australia as they made light work of them in the league match at the Ekana Stadium in Lucknow. But former India player and commentator Akash Chopra believes that Australia will be hot favourites against South Africa in the semi-finals at Eden Gardens in Kolkata.

It seems the same South Africa will not be able to chase now: Aakash Chopra

Aakash Chopra is of the view that if South Africa chases then they will lose given their inability to chase in this World Cup and their only chance is to bat first and post a mammoth total against Australia.

He said, “South Africa are the same team that beat Australia in Lucknow, batted first, scored a lot of runs, and then blew them away. However, it seems the same South Africa will not be able to chase now.

Both chase and choke have only five letters and if they get to chase in a semi-final, they are going to get stuck 100 per cent. The only way for South Africa to win is to win the toss, bat first, and score 350. Then they have a chance to win. If they don't get to bat first, it's 70-30 in Australia's favour."

Akash Chopra also praised the Aussie batter saying that all their batters are chipping with the bat and their long batting order looks never-ending. He said, “David Warner has fired in quite a few matches, Travis Head in a match, Mitchell Marsh scored 175-plus in the last match, Glenn Maxwell scored 200-plus against Afghanistan, Steve Smith has come in form, and Marnus Labuschagne is also in form. Their batting doesn't end at all."

However, he emphasized that the Australian bowling attack is not looking as venomous as it used to be but Adam Zampa and Josh Hazlewood have been the shining light in their bowling line-up. He added, “If Australia have a weakness, it's their bowling. However, it's also not a weakness if they get to bowl second. Starc and Pat Cummins are looking a pale shadow of themselves but it is still not making a difference."

But given their underperforming bowling attack Akash Chopra still feels that Australia will emerge victorious in the semi-finals and face India in Ahmedabad on Sunday.