Match preview for 3rd Test between India and South Africa
Hosts India will lock horns with visitors South Africa in the third and final Test at the JSCA International Stadium Complex in Ranchi from Saturday. Having won the first two Tests of the series, India have pocketed the Gandhi-Mandela trophy, as they would look to inflict a whitewash at home. Meanwhile, let us take a look at the match preview for this Test.
The Test series is a part of the ongoing ICC World Test Championship campaign. While India have won the four matches they have played so far, South Africa are off to a woeful start, losing the two matches they have played till now. While they lost the opening Test by 203 runs, they lost the second one by an innings and 137 runs.
As far as Team India is concerned, they would certainly look to grab the remaining 40 points in the series. Since the pitch is likely to assist spinners, Kuldeep Yadav might be given a chance to revive his Test career. India can go ahead with three spinners. It would be interesting to see Hanuma Vihari gets a chance in XI.
As for South Africa, they are in complete chaos following their below-par performance in the series. On top of it, key players like spinner Keshav Maharaj, along with batsman Aiden Markram, have suffered injuries as the side looks to find suitable replacements for them. Meanwhile, Lungi Ngidi could play his first match of this Test series.
Considering the pitch in Ranchi, it has traditionally been a batting track. Going by the history, the teams are up for a run feast and so are the fans. However, the pitch tends to assist spinners in the final days, as once again Indian spinners are likely to play a key role. The only Test here between India-Australia (2017) was drawn.
India: Rohit Sharma, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (captain), Ajinkya Rahane, Ravindra Jadeja, Wriddhiman Saha (wicket-keeper), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ishant Sharma, Mohammed Shami, Kuldeep Yadav. South Africa: Dean Elgar, Zubayr Hamza, Theunis de Bruyn, Faf du Plessis, Temba Bavuma, Quinton de Kock (wicket-keeper), Vernon Philander, Senuran Muthusamy, George Linde, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi.
Match: India vs South Africa, 3rd Test. Venue: JSCA International Stadium Complex, Ranchi. Time: 9:30 AM IST. Where to watch (TV): Star Sports 1, Star Sports 1 Hindi and other regional languages channels of Star Sports (also available in HD). Where to watch (Online): Hotstar.
