In the 3rd and final Test of the three-match series, South Africa and India will face off. The hosts levelled the series at 1-1 with a fantastic 7-wicket win in the second Test, thanks to gutsy innings from the skipper. Duanne Olivier’s addition was beneficial to them because he took some vital wickets. Despite taking a lot of body hits, the Proteas showed remarkable skill against the top-notch Indian pace attack, especially in the second innings.
In the second Test, India sorely missed their captain Virat Kohli. They were short on runs in the first inning, but they batted with a greater purpose in the second. In the second innings, veteran duo Pujara and Rahane scored half-centuries, demonstrating that they still have plenty of ability to score runs in difficult conditions. They haven’t won a Test series on South African soil, so this is a once-in-a-lifetime chance for them to make history.
Weather
The weather appears pleasant throughout the contest, with dazzling sunshine greeting the players.
Pitch
The Newlands pitch is a vibrant one. The bowlers will benefit from the increased bounce, and the pacers will continue to play a vital role on this surface. On this bowler-friendly surface, hitters must be on their toes while batting.
Probable Playing XIs
South Africa:
Dean Elgar (c), Kyle Verreynne (wk), Aiden Markram, Duanne Olivier, Rassie van der Dussen, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Temba Bavuma, Keegan Petersen, Lungi Ngidi
India:
Virat Kohli (c), Rishabh Pant (wk), KL Rahul, Jasprit Bumrah, Mayank Agarwal, Ajinkya Rahane, Shardul Thakur, Ravichandran Ashwin, Cheteshwar Pujara, Mohammad Shami, Ishant Sharma
South Africa vs India – 3rd Test, Dream 11:
KL Rahul (c), Rishabh Pant (wk), Ajinkya Rahane, Dean Elgar, Temba Bavuma, Marco Jansen, Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohammad Shami, Shardul Thakur, Kagiso Rabada, Duanne Olivier
Prediction
Match winner
- South Africa
Winning the toss
- South Africa
Top Batsman
- South Africa – Dean Elgar
- India – KL Rahul
Top Bowler
- South Africa – Kagiso Rabada
- India – Jasprit Bumrah
Most Sixes
- South Africa – Marco Jansen
- India – Rishabh Pant
Player of the Match
- South Africa – Dean Elgar
Team Scores Batting First
- South Africa – 300+
- India – 260+
Both teams’ pace bowlers have bowled superbly so far and will continue to do so. India has an opportunity to make history, and they must perform at their highest level to win the series.
Meanwhile, South Africa appears to have found the correct balance, and with the momentum of victory on their side, expect them to win the series finale.