Cricket World Cup Betting Tips: India vs South Africa

India vs South Africa betting tips: 

India and South Africa face off on Sunday in a potential preview of the 2023 ICC Cricket World Cup final.  

Hosts India booked their place in the semi-finals of the tournament after hammering Sri Lanka by 302 runs at Mumbai.  

Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli and Shreyas Iyer posted half-centuries to steer their side to an imposing total before the bowlers skittled Kusal Mendis’ team for 55. 

Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj surged through the top order before Mohammed Shami cleaned up the tail with a five-wicket haul. 

India will now look to make a statement against the Proteas, although South Africa have been playing outstanding cricket themselves.

Temba Bavuma’s men dealt with New Zealand with relative ease after putting a score of over 300 on the board for the fifth time in seven games. 

Quinton de Kock set the platform with another brilliant hundred, his fourth of the competition. Rassie van der Dussen supported the left-hander, scoring his second World Cup century as the Proteas posted 357 for four in 50 overs.  

Then it was the turn of the bowlers to stymie the Black Caps. Marco Jansen was on point with three wickets before Keshav Maharaj claimed four for 46 to secure a dominant win. 

UK bookmakers are giving India the edge in the Cricket World Cup odds to emerge with the win, but it should be a tight contest. Here are our predictions for the showdown in Kolkata. 

South Africa’s vaunted batting line-up has been the route of their success at the tournament. 

The Proteas have scored over 300 in five of the seven World Cup matches, including a total of 428 in their opening game against Sri Lanka. 

De Kock has been sensational at the top of the order, scoring four centuries in the tournament.  

The 30-year-old is now odds-on with new betting sites to finish as the leading runscorer at the World Cup. Every time South Africa have needed a player to come forward with runs someone in the line-up has stepped up.

Van der Dussen was the latest player to fire, notching 130 against the Black Caps. But, De Kock remains the central figure and the batter that the Proteas build around.  

His consistency has been outstanding and he'll be vital against India. He averages 56.42 in 19 games facing Rohit Sharma’s men, scoring six centuries and two fifties. 

Due to his form and record against India, we’re backing him to post 30 runs or more at 4/5 with bet365. 

Strong outing from Bumrah

It will be a clash of strengths as South Africa’s batting unit takes on India’s formidable bowling line-up. 

Bumrah has been extremely impressive at the World Cup and perhaps hasn’t got the full reward for his excellence with ball in hand.  

Sri Lanka didn’t stand a chance once he removed Pathum Nissanka first ball before Siraj came to the fore, helping reduce their opponents to 29 for eight. 

India have an embarrassment of riches among the bowlers, but Bumrah is the vital cog because he gets out great players. He dismissed Joe Root first ball in their win over England and the dangerous Mohammed Rizwan in another triumph over Pakistan.

Sharma will require more magic from his leading strike bowler, especially early on to limit the Proteas’ ability to press for a 300 plus score. 

In 11 matches against South Africa, Bumrah has taken 17 wickets at an average of 21.58. However, he has a best of two for 24 at Centurion in 2018.  

With our second bet, we’re going to back the 29-year-old to claim his best figures facing South Africa by taking three wickets or more at a price of 2/1 with Betway. 

No century to be scored 

India have still only scored two centuries at the World Cup through the efforts of Sharma and Kohli. Gill, Iyer and Kohli were all in position to make three figures, but failed to get over the line against Sri Lanka. 

South Africa on the other hand have been clinical as De Kock has scored a ton every time he has passed 50, while Van der Dussen took the Proteas to their eighth century of the tournament. 

But, South Africa have not faced an attack of India’s quality, so that will limit a talented batting unit. The Proteas have excellent bowlers in their ranks too to trouble Sharma and company. 

This has all the hallmarks of a classic, but perhaps not a high-scoring affair. With our final bet, we’re taking no century to be scored in the game at 21/20 with Unibet. 

Simon Sinclair is an experienced sports journalist, who has written for national publications for football, cricket, NFL and many more. He contributes tips on a wide range of sports for The Independent.