SA vs IND: 3rd Test Preview – Virat Kohli returns as India aim to create history

After the highs of Centurion, India had to endure the lows in Johannesburg, where their seven-wicket loss means that the series stands levelled going into the third and final rubber in Cape Town, a venue where no Indian team has ever tasted a Test win.

At the start of the series, India had similar history behind them going into Centurion, but Virat Kohli and Co. created history, winning the encounter by 113 runs to not only record their first-ever win at the venue but also become the first Asian team to achieve the feat.

At the Wanderers, where India had not lost a Test previously, the recent loss created another first. The series, therefore, has been all about doing what has not happened. Can India, then, continue the running trend at Newlands by registering their first-ever win?

In Johannesburg, South Africa showed the kind of attitude they lacked for most parts in the Centurion Test. Then whether it be wrapping India for 202 after stand-in skipper KL Rahul won the toss, or taking a handy 27-run first-innings lead, or holding their nerves in the chase to level the series and push it into a decider. After that effort, they would be high on confidence to dent India’s hopes to clinch their first-ever Test series victory in South Africa.

Head to head

Match Details

Match – South Africa vs India

Venue – Newlands, Cape Town

Time – 2:00 PM IST

Team News

India

After missing the previous Test due to an upper back spasm, Virat Kohli is set to return to lead the team. His return would most likely lead the axe to drop on Hanuma Vihari’s head. Mohammed Siraj, who picked a hamstring injury, remains an unlikely participant, with India having senior pace options in Ishant Sharma and Umesh Yadav.

Predicted XI: KL Rahul, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (C), Ajinkya Rahane, Rishabh Pant (wk), R Ashwin, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Ishant Sharma.

South Africa

South Africa are unlikely to tinker with the winning combination.

Predicted XI: Dean Elgar (c), Aiden Markram, Keegan Petersen, Rassie van der Dussen, Temba Bavuma, Kyle Verryenne (wk), Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada, Duanne Olivier, Keshav Maharaj, Lungi Nguidi.