SA vs IND: Weather Forecast and Pitch Report at The Newlands Stadium, Cape Town, India vs South Africa 2021-22, 3rd Test 

India squares up against South Africa in the third and final Test match of the three-match series from 11^th to 15^th January 2021 at Newlands Cricket Ground in Capetown. After winning the first Test at SuperSport Park by 113 runs, India couldn’t replicate a similar performance in Johannesburg and lost the second Test by 7 wickets. The series is currently levelled at 1-1 draw.

The Indian Cricket Team has a golden chance of creating history as a win in the third Test will help them register India’s first-ever Test series win in South Africa. Though, they are coming into the game on the back of a seven-wicket defeat.

India batted first in the second Test and managed to score 202 runs in the first innings. KL Rahul, yet again, played a vital knock as he scored 50 off 133 balls. Besides, Ravichandran Ashwin contributed 46 off 50 deliveries. Most of the other batsmen in the batting line-up got starts but couldn’t go on to convert those into big knocks.

South Africa, in reply, scored 229 runs in the second innings. Keegan Petersen (62 off 188) and Buvuma (51 off 60) made crucial contributions and helped South Africa take a 27-run lead after the first two innings. India managed to score 266 runs in the third innings. Cheteshwar Pujara (53), Ajinkya Rahane (58), and Hanuma Vihari (40) all made vital contributions but none of them could go on to play a big knock.

With that score, India set a 240-run target for South Africa to win the Test. Aiden before looked solid in the second innings before Thakur trapped Markram (31 off 38) leg-before. Before the end of day 4, Ashwin picked the second wicket in the form of Keegan Petersen (28 off 44). South Africa, at that stage, were at 93 for 2.

What followed was a brilliant partnership between Rassie van der Dussen and Dean Elgar. Both ensured they hit the bad balls to the boundary ropes as runs kept coming on day 5 of the Test match. The duo added 82 runs for the third wicket to take the total to 175.

Shami finally dismissed Rassie van der Dussen (40 off 92) in the 54^th over but things got out of their hands by then. Dean Elgar kept taking South Africa closer to the target and eventually chased down the score in 67.4 overs. Dean Elgar played one of the best knocks of his Test cricket career as he smashed 96 runs off 188 deliveries.

Virat Kohli missed the second Test due to injury. He is all set to make his comeback in the third Test. Mohammed Siraj picked up a hamstring injury during the second Test. He is expected to miss the final Test of the series. South Africa, on the other hand, are expected to come up with an unchanged XI.

SA vs IND: Weather Forecast and Pitch Report at The Newlands Stadium, Cape Town, India vs South Africa 2021-22, 3rd Test

Pitch Report:

The pitch at the Newlands Cricket Ground in Johannesburg offers assistance for the fast bowlers. The bounce and seam-movement will make life difficult for the batsmen. The outfield as usual will be quick and the batsmen will get value for the shots. Also, Newlands is one of the few ground which has assistance for spinners as well. Thus the likes of Ravichandran Ashwin and Keshav Maharaj are also likely to have a role to play in the Test match.