Cape Town: India’s quest to win a series for the first time in South Africa will come to an end with the third and final Test starting at the picturesque Newlands in Cape Town on Tuesday, where they have not won in the last five tours and are facing some selection posers. are.
The tricky series is level 1-1 after India claimed a 113-run win in Pretoria, and South Africa responded with a seven-wicket win in Johannesburg, a game that ended on Thursday.
The quick turnaround leaves little time for contemplation, or for weary bodies to recover, and India must decide how they turn things around to claim a historic victory.
tour captain Virat Kohli likely to return to Hanuma Vihari After not playing the second test with a back cramp.
batsmen Cheteshwar Pujara And Ajinkya Rahane There was a lot of pressure going into that game, but first innings failures were followed by a response in the second innings with 53 and 58 respectively, which should retain their place.
It is likely that tourists will replace the seamer mohammed siraji, not only because of a hamstring injury that hindered him during the Test, but also because of his meager three-wicket haul in the series at an average of 51.00.
One of the experienced pairings of Umesh Yadav or Ishant Sharma is in the running to start, and both will be strong choices on a wicket that has seam movement rather than the brisk bounce traditionally found at Highveld.
But India’s success or failure is likely to be centered on how their batting line-up deals with the home pace attack.
“The wickets have been a bit challenging, I will give it to the batsmen,” coach Rahul Dravid told reporters.
“We want to do better and do better, so as a batting unit we can definitely seize some key moments and when we do get those partnerships, lengthen them a little bit.”
South Africa would be buoyed by their unexpected victory, as they chased down a target of 240 in the fourth innings and led by their inspirational captain Dean Elgar, whose typically unbeaten 96, set the stage for their success.
Despite injuries, they are unlikely to tinker with their winning formula, where they have never lost to sub-continental opposition in 13 tests. India’s last five tours have had three home wins and two draws.
“There were areas that we focused on (in the second Test) and going to Cape Town we have to re-emphasize them,” said Elgar.
“We have to be strict with our game-plan, so we won’t change too much. We have a relatively inexperienced team and we know that not everything is going our way.”
The tricky series is level 1-1 after India claimed a 113-run win in Pretoria, and South Africa responded with a seven-wicket win in Johannesburg, a game that ended on Thursday.
The quick turnaround leaves little time for contemplation, or for weary bodies to recover, and India must decide how they turn things around to claim a historic victory.
tour captain Virat Kohli likely to return to Hanuma Vihari After not playing the second test with a back cramp.
batsmen Cheteshwar Pujara And Ajinkya Rahane There was a lot of pressure going into that game, but first innings failures were followed by a response in the second innings with 53 and 58 respectively, which should retain their place.
It is likely that tourists will replace the seamer mohammed siraji, not only because of a hamstring injury that hindered him during the Test, but also because of his meager three-wicket haul in the series at an average of 51.00.
One of the experienced pairings of Umesh Yadav or Ishant Sharma is in the running to start, and both will be strong choices on a wicket that has seam movement rather than the brisk bounce traditionally found at Highveld.
But India’s success or failure is likely to be centered on how their batting line-up deals with the home pace attack.
“The wickets have been a bit challenging, I will give it to the batsmen,” coach Rahul Dravid told reporters.
“We want to do better and do better, so as a batting unit we can definitely seize some key moments and when we do get those partnerships, lengthen them a little bit.”
South Africa would be buoyed by their unexpected victory, as they chased down a target of 240 in the fourth innings and led by their inspirational captain Dean Elgar, whose typically unbeaten 96, set the stage for their success.
Despite injuries, they are unlikely to tinker with their winning formula, where they have never lost to sub-continental opposition in 13 tests. India’s last five tours have had three home wins and two draws.
“There were areas that we focused on (in the second Test) and going to Cape Town we have to re-emphasize them,” said Elgar.
“We have to be strict with our game-plan, so we won’t change too much. We have a relatively inexperienced team and we know that not everything is going our way.”
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