South Africa captain Temba Bavuma has warned of the dangers of complacency as the Proteas tackle Bangladesh in a significant ODI series.

The three games in six days could have a major bearing on whether South Africa ease into the Cricket World Cup, or whether they have to go to the subsequent qualifying competition next year.

Series defeats to Sri Lanka and Pakistan, plus a draw with Ireland and an abandoned series against the Netherlands, have left the Proteas down in 10th position in the Cricket World Cup Super League after 10 games.

Bangladesh have played 15 games so far, winning 10 of those, and sit top of the table, just ahead of England, with India in third place.

South Africa have won all nine of their previous men's ODIs at home against Bangladesh, so they head into this series as firm favourites. A 3-0 ODI series win away to India in January showed their prowess, albeit that did not count towards World Cup qualification.

Bavuma said ahead of Friday's SuperSport Park opener: "We must make sure that we get ourselves in the right mental space. One of the things we have spoken about from a mental point of view is that coming up against a side like India generally it is easier for the guys to get themselves up.

"With Bangladesh, we can't afford to underestimate them in any way from a mental and intensity point of view and there can't be any sense of complacency."

Fitness concerns mean South Africa have not selected all-rounder Sisanda Magala. He is not injured and has performed strongly with the ball for the Lions in recent days, but South Africa do not see him being in the right physical shape to play international cricket.

Bavuma is a Lions club-mate of Magala but indicated the ruthless decision was one that he supported.

Speaking in a news conference on Friday, Bavuma said: "With Magala, he knows he can only point the finger back at himself and obviously as a captain I am disappointed that I don't have him at my disposal – but I think he can accept that it is his own doing."

The South Africa captain added, according to Times Live: "I play with the guy at the Lions, I have a good relationship with the fitness trainer and the communication that I have had is that there is a lot more good he is doing to try to improve his fitness. Unfortunately, at this time he is not at the eligible fitness level."

Bangladesh bidding to bounce back

Bangladesh suffered a seven-wicket loss to Afghanistan in their last ODI, bringing an end to a five-game winning streak in the format. It would be a statement result if they pulled off a win in any of their three games in South Africa, even though the Proteas have lost four of their last six completed men's ODIs in Centurion, including their last two. The Proteas have never lost more than two consecutive games in their 43 all-time fixtures at the venue.

Hosts go all out

A number of South Africa's big names will miss the Test series that follows the ODIs, as they head to the IPL, but the hosts will be fielding their strongest possible side in these limited-overs games. South Africa have scored an average of 300 runs per innings when batting first in men's ODIs since the beginning of 2021, the most of any team to have batted first more than once in that period and 53 runs more than Bangladesh (247).

Rassie van der Dussen and South Africa captain Temba Bavuma starred as the Proteas claimed a 31-run win over India in the opening ODI at Paarl.

Having won the Test series, South Africa started the three-match ODI series in confident fashion on Wednesday.

It was not all plain sailing, with the hosts 3-68 when Van der Dussen came to the crease in the 18th over but, along with his skipper, the 32-year-old turned in a supreme performance.

After dismissing Janneman Malan (six), the returning Quinton de Kock (27) and Aiden Markram (four), India – under the leadership of stand-in white-ball captain KL Rahul – had their tails up, but Bavuma and Van der Dussen put on a stand of 204 to take the game away from the tourists.

Bavuma's methodical 110 from 143 deliveries – his second ODI 100 – anchored things at one end while Van der Dussen flourished at the other, hitting 129 not-out to propel South Africa to 296-4 from 50 overs.

Rahul (12) edged Markram through to De Kock in the ninth over, but Shikhar Dhawan and Virat Kohli, playing for the first time since he was relinquishing the captaincy, seemed to have India well-placed.

Dhawan was bowled by Keshav Maharaj (1-42) for 79, however, and Kohli (51) fell inside three overs with a failed attempt at a sweep, shortly after reaching his half-century.

India needed 141 to win heading into their last 20 overs, yet Shreyas Iyer (17), Rishabh Pant (16), Venkatesh Iyer (two) and Ravichandran Ashwin (seven) lost their wickets in the space of six overs. 

The impressive Shardul Thakur reached 50 with the final ball of the day, but his flurry was never enough to trouble South Africa as India finished on 265-8.

Record-setting Van der Dussen dazzles

"In the past, I maybe would have taken 15-20 balls to assess, but the conditions told me I had to get going from fairly early on," said Van der Dussen after his innings. 

Getting about it early on is just what Van der Dussen did, sweeping for four off the third ball he faced. It set the tone for an exquisite display that included nine boundaries and four sixes, with his 129 n.o. reached in 96 deliveries, at a strike rate of 134.37.

He now has the best average of any batsman to have scored at least 1,000 ODI runs, with 73.62.

South Africa share the wickets around

Jasprit Bumrah was the pick of India's bowlers with 2-48 from his 10 overs, though he had little support from the rest of the attack.

The Proteas, meanwhile, had Lungi Ngidi, Tabraiz Shamsi and Andile Phehlukwayo each contribute two wickets, albeit Bavuma will be unhappy with some sloppiness that crept in late on, when Thakur was able to tally 16 in the 48th over.

Dean Elgar made a magnificent unbeaten half-century as South Africa levelled the Test series at 1-1 with a historic seven-wicket win over India on a rain-affected day four at the Wanderers.

The Proteas reached their victory target of 240 after a long rain delay to set up a decider at Newlands, captain Elgar leading the way with a brilliant 96 not out.

India only claimed one wicket after play got under way following an early tea break in Johannesburg on Thursday, Mohammed Shami sending Rassie van der Dussen on his way for 40 

Temba Bavuma (23*) provided further support for the obdurate Elgar, who showed great temperament and technique to guide his side to a first Test win over India at this venue.

Elgar and Van der Dussen were finally able to head out to the middle for a 3.45pm start local time with South Africa 118-2, needing a further 122 runs for victory.

The tenacious skipper brought up his half-century by driving Ravichandran Ashwin wide of mid-on for a boundary before Shami ended a stand of 82, Cheteshwar Pujara taking the catch at first slip after the seamer drew an edge from Van der Dussen.

Bavuma was given a lifeline before he had got off the mark when Shardul Thakur failed to take a sharp chance off his own bowling.

The battling Elgar dispatched Shami for back-to-back boundaries and the runs flowed for an in-form Bavuma as India's hopes of wrapping up the series deteriorated rapidly.

Words were exchanged in the middle as the game slipped away from India and Elgar flicked Ashwin for his 10th boundary before punching the air as South Africa celebrated a huge win.

Inspirational Elgar produces a captain's knock 

South Africa suffered their first Test loss to India at SuperSport Park in the first match of the series and were then rocked by Quinton de Kock's shock retirement from Test cricket.

Elgar issued a rallying cry after that loss in Centurion and he vowed to take as many blows as required from the India bowlers in order to keep the Proteas in the series.

The gritty left-hander stepped up under huge pressure after such a long time in the pavilion on day four, grinding out a 19th Test half-century to make it all to play for in Cape Town next week.

India toil as Proteas pull off record run chase

The tourists must have fancied their chances of securing a first Test series win in South Africa when play got under way in what looked like bowler-friendly conditions.

India were unfortunate that Mohammed Siraj could only bowl six overs in the second innings due to a hamstring injury, but a lack of potency with the ball must have been a concern for Virat Kohli as he watched on after being ruled out with a back spasm.

South Africa comfortably completed their highest successful run chase in a Test at the Wanderers and the third-best by any team, beating India for the first time in the longest format at this ground at the sixth attempt.