Champions Trophy: India face Proteas challenge in do-or-die clash

Defending champions India will face a stern test when they take on top-ranked ODI side South Africa in a do-or-die virtual quarter-final clash of the Champions Trophy at the Kennington Oval here on Sunday.

India will head into their final Group B fixture against the Proteas knowing that a win or washout will put them in the semifinals, while a loss would eliminate the defending champions from the eight-team marquee event.

AB de Villiers's side, on the other hand, will be determined to break their winless streak against India in the tournament and seal a spot in the last-four.

Going into the match, both India and South Africa hold two points each after registering comprehensive wins against Pakistan and Sri Lanka respectively in their opening clash.

While India slumped to a seven-wicket defeat against Sri Lanka in their second match, South Africa went down by 19 runs against Pakistan at the Edgbaston.

Here are some important facts about the two sides:

· The last seven completed matches between these sides have seen the winner alternate; the Proteas claiming victory in the last one (Mumbai, October 2015).

· India have taken on South Africa three times previously in the Champions Trophy; winning all those encounters (2000, 2002 & 2013).

· Whichever side goes wins this game will qualify for the semi-final stage.

· If South Africa lose this match, it'll be the 200th time they will have tasted defeat; nine sides have already reached the milestone in ODI cricket.

· The Proteas come into this match having lost five of their last nine ODIs; however, winning 12 matches in succession immediately before this run.

· India have only progressed from the group stage once across their last four appearances in the Champions Trophy; they did go on to win it on that occasion though (2013).

· South Africa have alternated between going out in the group stages and semi-finals across their last five appearances in the Champions Trophy; they progressed to the final four in 2013.

· Virat Kohli (India) has posted 50+ in two of his last three ODI innings against South Africa; recording knocks of 138 and 77.

· Morne Morkel (currently 177) needs two more scalps to go 6th in the all-time list of South Africa ODI wicket-takers (leapfrogging Dale Steyn).

· AB de Villiers (South Africa) has scored 1279 runs against India in this format of the game; at an average of 53.3.

Squads:

India: Virat Kohli (captain), Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Yuvraj Singh, Mahendra Singh Dhoni (wk), Kedar Jadhav, Hardik Pandya, Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Umesh Yadav, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ajinkya Rahane, Dinesh Karthik

South Africa: AB de Villiers (c), Faf du Plessis, Quinton de Kock, Jean-Paul Duminy, Farhaan Behardien, David Miller, Chris Morris, Kagiso Rabada, Imran Tahir, Hashim Amla, Keshav Maharaj, Dwaine Pretorius, Morne Morkel, Wayne Parnell, Andile Phehlukwayo.

-ANI