The fourth ODI in Chennai presents a chance for India to draw the ongoing ODI series level and take it to the fifth match, while South Africa can seal the series in southern India and make the Mumbai ODI a dead rubber. Hence, the game is a do-or-die for India, who trail the best of five ODI series, 2-1 after losing the first and third ODI.
India have not played bad cricket, but the visitors have been too strong for the home team, who lost both their matches from winning positions. South Africa are aware that they have a strong advantage when they square off against MS Dhoni and his men on Thursday and the Proteas want to go for the kill.
Bowling spearhead Dale Steyn believes if they play good cricket in Chennai, they have a chance of winning the series straightaway.
"It will be nice to seal it here and go to Mumbai. We've spoken about it in team meetings, we want to go overseas and dominate the opposition. We have a good chance now to be able to do that," PTI quoted Steyn as saying.
"We definitely have an advantage. We have to win one more to win the series and if we play good cricket we'll do that."
But this India team, which prides in being masters at home, are going to give it their all in Chennai to have any hopes of winning the series in Mumbai. Steyn is also aware of the fact that the team, which plays better on the day will emerge triumphant. Cricket fans in India must be desperate for a victory and will have their fingers crossed hoping South Africa have a poor day in Chennai.
"There's no guarantee in cricket. We can come out tomorrow and India can play extremely well. And they have played well this series. We can have a bad day. That's cricket. We can only commit 100% and let the result take care of itself," Steyn said on the eve of the fourth ODI here," added Steyn.
What could also play on India's hands is the tough and humid conditions in Chennai, which can put a toll on the South African players, but Steyn believes that his team mates have been in India bearing the hot conditions of India ever since they arrived, so it will not pose any problem in Chennai.
"We've been in India for two weeks and it has been hot. We've played here before and the heat isn't really a big factor. We've been to some hot countries in the past and it's no different for us anymore. We have to acclimatise soon," he said.
