🏏SA vs India, 3rd ODI: Venue: Boland Park, Paarl 🏏 - Page 3

Pitch Report: It is a hot day, tempreatures in the mid 30s. The pitch is dry, has a bit of grass covering. The pitch will be on the slower side. It makes sense to bowl first, because the pitch does something under lights. The average score in the first innings at Paarl is 272, if the team gets anything near that or more than that, they should be good, reckons Vernon Philander.

Toss: South Africa opt to bowl. "Looks a really good wicket, can't see it changing over 100 overs. Want to replicate from the second game. Hopefully we can take wickets nice and regularly," Markram says. Wants "more of the same" from his team and says playing smartly with the long straight boundaries here will be important. Same team.

KL Rahul: "The lights come on pretty late so don't think it will be a big factor. We were in a decent position in the last game, and should've capitalised in the last 15 overs." Says he hopes "this pitch plays better." Ruturaj's damage to his finger keeps him out. No Chahal. Washington replaces a rested Kuldeep Yadav.

South Africa: de Zorzi, Hendricks, van der Dussen, Markram, Klaasen, Miller, Mulder, Maharaj, Burger, Williams, Beauran Hendricks

India: Sudharsan, Samson, Patidar, Tilak, Rahul, Rinku, Axar, Washington, Arshdeep, Avesh, Mukesh

KL Rahul: Not really bothered by being asked to bat first. The wicket will be even for both innings and the lights come on pretty late here. We got ourselves to a good position in the previous game but ended up losing 5 wickets for 40 odd runs. Once we get a good start, we have to make it count. Today is another opportunity for the boys to prove themselves. This looks like a much better wicket than the previous two, hopefully we can get plenty of runs on the board. Two changes - Rajat Patidar makes his ODI debut, Rutu misses out after doing some damage to his finger. Also, Kuldeep gets a rest and Washington Sundar comes in

Gaikwad missed out today as he is still recovering from the blow he sustained on his ring finger while fielding in the second ODI. He’s under supervision of the BCCI medical team.

Two changes for India: Patidar comes in for Ruturaj Gaikwad and Washington Sundar replaces Kuldeep Yadav.

ODI series so far

1st ODI: India beat South Africa by 8 wickets

2nd ODI: South Africa beat India by 8 wickets

Jai / viru ( sholay Fame) se Sikka ( toss) laye hai kya?

South Afrika hi Jit-ta hai, her ek baar

Bahut Na-Insafi hai, ye

India’s lone ODI series win in the Rainbow Nation came in 2018, and for an encore, it requires a robust beginning from our openers, B Sai Sudharsan as a pair.

India also has a tiny concern in its bowling department ahead of the third ODI. Mukesh Kumar is yet to pick up a wicket in two matches, and the pacer needs to slip into his striking armour sooner than later.

The anthems are done. Players making their way to the centre. Sudharsan opens with Rajat Patidar, the debutant.

Patidar is opening with Sudarshan.

Burger is the bowler.

They started with taking ones and twos. That is a good sign.

At least the score will move on the board for the first few overs to allow them to settle.