SA vs IND, 3rd Test: India Bat First, Ajinkya Rahane Returns

India won the toss and decided to bat first in the third and final Test at New Wanderers Stadium, Johannesburg.

The visitors have made two changes to the team that lost in the second Test, bringing in Ajinkya Rahane and Bhuvneshwar Kumar in place of Rohit Sharma and Ravichandran Ashwin respectively.  On the other hand, the hosts have dropped Keshav Maharaj for Andile Phehlukwayo.

Here is what the captains said:

Virat Kohli:

“We are going to bat first. There is a good grass covering here and it’s always been there. If we bat well, we can put some pressure on them. We’ve played some really good cricket here. Even the last time around, we did well. Should be a good contest. We are up against a side who are really strong in their conditions as they have shown in the first two Tests. We have two changes. Rahane replaces Rohit and Bhuvi comes in for Ashwin.”

Faf du Plessis:

“We were thinking to bowl first. Wanting to get into their batting line-up. If there is a lot of sunshine, the cracks could widen but if it stays overcast, then there could be a lot of movement. It’s also quite hard and that’s why we wanted to bowl. Yeah, Jo’burg never really spins and hence so the spinner usually has to do a holding role. So, we have Andile in for Keshav. They are always a quality side and it’s a good motivation for us to beat them 3-0.”

Preview:

Read More  Delhi Capitals Playing 11 vs Rajasthan Royals- IPL 2024, Match 9

With South Africa winning the first two Tests, the three-match Test series is already decided in favour of the formidable hosts. However, there is still plenty to play for when the teams lock horns in the third and final Test in Johannesburg. While the hosts, who have already made it clear they want to inflict a whitewash on the visitors, will be keen to avenge the 3-0 loss they suffered at the hands of India in 2015, the visitors would be desperate to finish the series on a high.

India had arrived in the African nation on the back of nine consecutive series, but their reputation took a huge beating as they were outplayed in both the Tests.

Here is the playing eleven of both the teams:

India:

 Murali Vijay, Lokesh Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli(c), Ajinkya Rahane, Parthiv Patel(w), Hardik Pandya, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Jasprit Bumrah

South Africa:

Dean Elgar, Aiden Markram, Hashim Amla, AB de Villiers, Faf du Plessis(c), Quinton de Kock(w), Vernon Philander, Kagiso Rabada, Morne Morkel, Lungisani Ngidi, Andile Phehlukwayo

An avid cricket lover, I just love this game more than anything. Writing about cricket keeps me closer to the game.