India cricket fans can watch the fifth and deciding game of their team’s ODI series against South Africa live online Sunday, as the Men In Blue try to hold off the Proteas from winning a bilateral One Day International series on India turf for the first time ever. But South Africa historically has been the world’s best in series-deciding games, winning 10 and losing only three.
India, by contrast, has played 21 series deciders, winning 11 and losing 9 with one no-result, according to stats compiled by ESPNCricinfo .
To find out how to watch the fifth and deciding ODI of the India vs. South Africa series live online, see the streaming information at the bottom of this article. The action gets underway at 1:30 p.m. India Standard Time on Sunday, October 25, at Wankhede Stadium, Mumbai, India. United States viewers can catch the live stream starting at 4 a.m. Eastern Daylight Time, 1 a.m. Pacific.
Just one day after the South Africa Springboks rugby team was booted out of the Rugby World Cup by New Zealand in that tournament’s semifinal, South Africa’s national cricket squad will be determined to pull off a stunning upset that may not be on the level of a World Cup semifinal, but is certainly the most important match that South Africa has played since losing in the semifinal of the Cricket World Cup — also to New Zealand — in March.
“It is not the greatest game but is a very important game for us,” said South Africa opening batsman Hashim Amla on Saturday. “Scoring a lot of runs and defending it will be the key tomorrow. If we can play our best cricket we will win.”
But South African will, for the second match in a row, be without the services of two important players — 31-year-old seamer Morne Morkel, whose four wickets were essential to the South Africa victory in the Third ODI of the series, and J.P. Duminy, also 31, the Proteas reliable middle-order batsman who doubles as spin-bowling option.
“(Duminy) been an unbelievable and consistent performer for us over the last couple of years. He adds great balance to the team with his off spinners as well,” Amla said. “It has changed things a bit in the team but that’s what you have a squad for. No big series is ever won on 11 players, you usually have about 15 players contributing at different times.”
India has no new injury concerns for the 5th ODI, but will need more production from opener Shikhar Dhawan, whose struggles in the first four matches have been monumental. Back on February 22 when these same two nations met in Melbourne, Australia, in a World Cup match, Dhawan led his team to a 130-run victory, posting a sparkling 137.
But on his own home grounds this month, Dhawan has not yet managed to break 30, going out for just seven in the fourth ODI
India-based website CricHD will stream the fifth and final India vs. South Africa ODI at this link , but fans who choose that option will have to put up with numerous advertisements that often cause slowdowns when viewing online. The best way to watch the first match of the India vs. South Africa cricket tour online in the United States is through Willow TV, which is available via this YouTube link with a monthly subscription fee, as well as on Willow TV’s own site, accessible by clicking here.
But there are legal ways to watch Willow TV for free. Certain promotional offers make it possible to watch the all-cricket network, including the India vs. South Africa ODI series, for a limited period of time, such as the offer at this link — or try the one-month free trial of Sling TV’s International Sports Package, which includes Willow. Information on that deal can be found at this link.
India network Star Sports streams the India vs. South Africa cricket Fourth ODI at this link .
[Featured Photo by Quinn Rooney / Getty Images]