South Africa legend Dale Steyn cannot believe that the men’s team has decided to push Aiden Markram to number five in the ongoing ODI series against India.
Markram has spent most of his ODI career in the top four. He has opened 25 times, scoring 896 runs at an average of 37.33 with a strike-rate of 93.04. He has spent 43 matches at number four, collecting 1588 runs, including three centuries (most for him for any batting position) at 42.92 with a strike-rate of 100.70.
He opened the innings in the first two ODIs against India, scoring 7 (15) and 110 (98), his first century while batting in the top two. In the third game, at the ACA-VDCA Stadium in Vizag, South Africa brought in wicketkeeper batter Ryan Rickelton for Tony de Zorzi, and he opened alongside
Quinton de Kock, with captain Temba Bavuma at number three and Matthew Breetzke at four.
A South African fan pointed it out on X (formerly Twitter), saying if Markram isn’t opening the innings, he should be asked to bat at four.
“Look if Markram ain’t opening he should be batting at 4 which has been his best position in this format. Aiden coming in at 5 is WILD! #INDvSA” the user, Lawrence Bailey wrote.
“I’m actually just mind *** right now,” Steyn replied.
Markram has only twice batted below number four. He scored an unbeaten half-century from Afghanistan at the 2025 Champions Trophy in February this year and scored 6* (1) against New Zealand in the 2023 World Cup from number six.
Rickelton’s return didn’t vindicate South Africa’s decision to move Markram either, with the opener recording a four-ball duck. At the time of writing, de Kock was standing strong at 93 (76) alongside Breetzke at 24 (22). Bavuma got out to Ravindra Jadeja, handing an easy catch out to Virat Kohli at backward point.
The series is leveled 1-1. The decider will be followed by a five-T20I series between the teams.
