Indian skipper Virat Kohli will be excited to see his side being 2-0 up in the six-match ODI series and will know there is an opportunity to hit the South Africans harder when the two sides meet for the third match in Cape Town on Wednesday.
The Indian unit have been on their toes and have bullied the hosts so far winning the first two games rather comfortably. The spin bowling duo of Kuldeep Yadav and Yuzvendra Chahal have been on top of their game and the batsmen led by Kohli has hit form.
The 29-year-old sees his side being presented with a rare opportunity of winning three games on the trot and will know another victory from there on will hand them the series. This, in turn, will be their first major series win on South African soil.
Injury-hit South Africa are missing several of their top players and skipper Aiden Markram will want his side to give their all in the third ODI and gain some much needed momentum. So there is everything to play for both the teams when they go out on the field for a cracking day/night encounter at Newlands.
India’s ODI Series in South Africa
- 1992-93: Lost 2-5
- 2006-07: Lost 0-4
- 2010-11: Lost 2-3
- 2013-14: Lost 0-2
- 2018: Leading series 2-0
The hugely anticipated battle between the No. 1 and the No. 2 side in the world will once again generate plenty of attraction despite the Proteas lacking some big players. India could be in prime position to go ahead in yet another bilateral ODI series and maintain their win record in tact since the 4-1 loss against Australia in January 2016.
STAT ATTACK: India have won 26 out of the last 34 bilateral matches.
Team selection and news:
INDIA
The visitors are sitting pretty with both batting and bowling clicking in equal measure and are therefore likely going to go with the same team. The bowling needs a special mention as the character shown in the Test series have quickly transferred into the ODIs. India won the first two games by six-wickets and nine-wickets respectively. It has somewhat been an all-out spin show with Chahal and Kuldeep dominating the headlines.
ALSO READ: Sparkling ‘Jodi’: Is There Any Stopping India’s Wrist Spin Duo?
At Newlands, India have had a mixed record with two wins and two losses from four matches played. All eyes will be on Hardik Pandya, who has nit been up to the mark with his bowling so far. India will hope he steps up and allows Kohli more breathing space.
South Africa
Injuries have hasn’t helped South Africa. AB de Villiers was ruled out before the series began, Faf du Plessis got injured after the first ODI and Quinton de Kock after the second. The duo have been ruled out for the remainder of the series. With no replacement named for De Kock, Heinrich Klaasen is expected to make his debut.
South Africa will be hoping for a better showing against Chahal and Kuldeep who have combined for 13 wickets so far in the two ODIs and have not given away runs at ease. Klaasen will have to be ready from the word go when facing Chahal and Kuldeep.
Aiden Markram could promote himself higher up the order having batted at no. 4 in Durban and no.3 in Centurion. Proteas could also include a more experienced Ferhaan Behardien to bolster the middle-order and leave out Khayelihle Zondo. Even David Miller’s place isn’t safe.
Pitch and conditions
The hosts will be looking forward to getting back to a happy hunting ground. There will be something for the seamers as history regards this as a batsman’s venue. So both teams could benefit.
India; Virat Kohli (capt), Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane, Shreyas Iyer, Manish Pandey, Dinesh Karthik, Kedar Jadhav, MS Dhoni (wk), Hardik Pandya, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Shardul Thakur.
South Africa: Faf du Plessis (capt), Hashim Amla, Quinton de Kock (wk), JP Duminy, Imran Tahir, Aiden Markram, David Miller, Morne Morkel, Chris Morris, Lungisani Ngidi, Andile Phehlukwayo, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Khayelihle Zondo.
Match starts at: 4.30 pm IST.
