India is 2-0 up in the six-match One Day International Series and would be pushing for the series win in the decider on Wednesday. India will play South Africa in their Third ODI match at Newlands Cricket Ground, Capetown on February 7, 2018. The live telecast of the match will begin at 04.30 p.m. Virat Kohli-led Indian side seems to march with authority and there seem to be no chink in their armour, so far. Come Wednesday, the South African team need to play the best cricket of their lives to save the series!

After being devastated by wrist spin in the second One Day International (ODI), South Africa will have to make a strong comeback to stay alive in the ODI series. Their biggest weakness, wrist spin, was capitalised by the spin duo – Yuzvendra Chahal and Kuldeep Yadav. The deadly spin duo took eight wickets between them, and took their tally to 13, in the series. India stomped to the under-par target of 119 runs in a space of 21 overs only.

After being all-out on their lowest ODI score at home, the Proteas will have to play out of their skin if they have to pose any challenge to the strong Indian side. The Indian bowlers, especially the spinners, are proving to be too good for the host team. After AB de Villiers and Faf du Plessis being already on the injury list, Africa’s first choice wicket-keeper batsman Quinton de Kock will also have to sit out of the next match. India’s tormentor-in-chief, before this tour, de Kock is also nursing an injury and is ruled out of the remainder of the ODI and T20 series.

On the other side, the Indian team would be looking to avoid complacency in their ranks. If the Men in Blue wants to take an unassailable lead in the series, they will have to play their A-game on Wednesday. Shikhar Dhawan struck form in the previous match and would like to continue the fine touch that he is in. Kohli is in sublime touch too. India’s concern, however, would be Rohit Sharma’s form.

India’s middle-order has largely been untested in this series so far. The South-African quicks would be looking for early breakthroughs and capitalise on it. South Africa’s second-youngest captain Aiden Markram might contemplate giving Lungisani Ngidi a debut.

India’s likely XI:

1. Rohit Sharma, 2. Shikhar Dhawan, 3. Virat Kohli (c), 4. Ajinkya Rahane, 5. MS. Dhoni (wk), 6. Kedar Jadhav, 7. Hardik Pandya, 8. Kuldeep Yadav, 9. Yuzvendra Chahal, 10. Bhuvneshwar Kumar, 11. Jasprit Bumrah.

On the bench:  Shreyas Iyer, Manish Pandey, Dinesh Karthik, Axar Patel, Shardul Thakur, and Mohammed Shami.

South Africa’s likely XI:

1. Aiden Markram (c), 2. Farhaan Behardien, 3. Hashim Amla, 4. Jean-Paul Duminy, 5. Khaya Zondo, 6. David Miller, 7. Chris Morris, 8. Imran Tahir, 9. Morne Morkel, 10. Andile Phehlukwayo / Lungisani Ngidi, 11. Kagiso Rabada.

On the bench:  Quinton de Kock, Faf du Plessis, Tabraiz Shamsi and AB De Villiers.

The Indian side has never had such an upper-hand in the ODI series in South Africa before. It will be delighting to watch the Indian side lock horns with South Africa in their Third ODI. The depleted South African side would love to turn things around, and quickly. As for India, another victory would give them a chance to test other players in foreign conditions.

The Third ODI between India and South Africa will telecast LIVE on Sony Ten 1 and Sony Ten 3. The Live Streaming will available be on Sony LIV website and App. Stay tuned with us for all the updates about India vs South Africa ODI series.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Feb 06, 2018 05:21 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).