SA vs IND 2018 3rd Test: India's Predicted Eleven For Third Test

While the upcoming third Test will not have any impact on deciding the outcome of the series which has already been won by South Africa, India will be desperate to put up a good show in the inconsequential tie to finish the series on a good note.

India’s reputation as the world number one Test side counted for little in the African country as the formidable Proteas stumped their authority with dominating performances in the first two Tests to end India’s nine-series winning run.  India had a golden opportunity of winning the first Test after they were set a target of 208 runs, but the batsmen failed to live up to the occasion as the visitors were bowled out for a paltry 135.

The batsmen learned little from there mistakes in Cape Town and the team once again paid the price for their dismal show in the second Test in Centurion. India’s bowlers had taken the ten South African wickets with quite an ease in both the innings but the batsmen failed to complement their efforts as the team was all out for just 151 in pursuit of 287.

Not much has gone right for Virat Kohli & Co. on this tour so far, and ahead of the limited-overs series, the players would be keen to regain their confidence by doing well in the last Test.

So here is a look at the playing eleven which India can field in Johannesburg to avoid a whitewash and concluded the series on a high.

1. KL Rahul:

Even though Rahul failed to justify his selection in the second Test, he is looking set to open the innings again. After replacing Shikhar Dhawan, he scored 10 and 4 in Centurion, but the team is unlikely to drop him for just one failure.

2. Murali Vijay:

Unlike the past overseas tours, Vijay has not quite managed to show the form that made him one of the most important players of the team in tough conditions. With India’s next Test assignments quite a good months away, Vijay will be keen to regain his mojo back in Johannesburg.

3. Cheteshwar Pujara:

Just like the other batsmen, Pujara has also looked uneasy on the tough South African tracks. The right-handed batsman is one of the key members of the team but his track record in the overseas tour has still left a lot to be desired. His suicidal run-out in the second innings of the last Test robbed India off a solid start on the fifth day, and he will be desperate to regain his form in the upcoming Test.

4. Virat Kohli (c):

The India skipper proved his mettle in the last Test with a sublime 153-run knock. However, he failed to replicate the performance when his side needed him the most in the second innings. With the series already lost, Kohli will be eyeing a morale-boosting win for his troop.

5. Ajinkya Rahane:

Ajinkya Rahane’s omission from the playing eleven for the first two Tests is as surprising as India’s capitulation. With his replacement Rohit Sharma is failing to justify the decision, Rahane, arguably India’s best overseas player in recent times is looking primed to return to the playing eleven.

6. Dinesh Karthik:

With Parthiv Patel failing to impress after replacing an injured Wriddhiman Saha in the second Test, Dinesh Karthik is more than likely to play his first Test since January 2010. Patel spilt several regulation catches and also failed to deliver with the bat, paving the way for Karthik to replace him.

7.  Ravichandran Ashwin:

Ravichandran Ashwin has done a decent job on the tour so far, picking up seven wickets in the two Tests and is looking set to retain his place in the playing eleven for the upcoming game.

8. Hardik Pandya:

After an impressive outing in Cape Town, the all-rounder had a forgettable game in Centurion where he managed to score just 21 runs and failed to pick up any wicket. However, he is looking more than likely to retain his place for the upcoming game.

9. Bhuvneshwar Kumar:

Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s exclusion for the second Test had raised a lot of eyebrows. Kumar had started the game in Cape Town on a stunning note, ripping through South Africa’s top-order to reduce them to 12 for 3 and had gone on to finish the game with six wickets to his name. However, the team management surprisingly decided to drop him. But while the pacers did well in the second Test, Bhuvneshwar is likely to return to the playing eleven.

10. Mohammed Shami:

Shami justified the tag of pace spearhead of this Indian team with a stunning show in Centurion. His four-wicket haul in the second innings of the game had given India a big chance of winning the game, but the batsmen let the team down. With nine wickets to his name, Shami is the second leading wicket-taker in the series.

11. Ishant Sharma:

Ishant Sharma was surprisingly included in the team for the second Test in place of Bhuvneshwar Kumar who was India’s most successful bowler in the first Test. However, the lanky pacer justified the decision by taking five wickets in the match and with the Johannesburg track likely to offer good pace and bounce, Ishant is expected to get the nod again.