JP Duminy says AB de Villiers will lift the Proteas against India at the Wanderers on Saturday.

South Africa are 3-0 down in the six-match series, but have never lost a ‘pink ODI’.

De Villiers, who is No 2 on the ICC ODI batting rankings, missed his side’s defeats in Durban, Centurion and Cape Town because of a finger injury, but will be back for the clash in Johannesburg.

‘Having AB back is going to be a massive boost for us,’ said Duminy. ‘He’s one of the world’s best in one-day cricket. So yes, he will bring confidence to the team and no doubt his leadership in the group will add a lot of value for us.’

Despite being comprehensively beaten in the first three ODIs, Duminy remained hopeful that the Proteas could claw their way back.

‘The series is not lost yet and that should be a big enough motivator to come back and try to revive the series.

‘What India have done really well is to assess the conditions, in terms of what they need to do, and the speed and length they need to bowl. They haven’t made it easy for us [batsmen] to get ones and lot of us haven’t picked their googlies.

‘The key is definitely to try to be positive. On a few occasions, we haven’t picked their wrong’uns. When you don’t pick their wrong’uns you definitely not going to be comfortable at the crease and will always be a bit tentative.

‘I think once we become comfortable with picking their deliveries, then we can play with confidence and play with freedom. We need to find a way to get that right.’