SA vs IND | 3rd Test | Preview: With captain Kohli back, can India finally conquer Proteas?

Virat Kohli, the Indian Test skipper on Monday announced that he is going to captain the side in the third and final Test against South Africa, starting January 11 at the Newlands in Cape Town. Kohli missed the second Test due to a back spasm and India lost the game to draw the series level at 1-1. 

Now that the captain is back, he would like to win this, his final frontier as South Africa remains the only nation that hasn’t conquered as a captain in terms of winning a Test series there. 

Looking at the scheme of things, this also seems like the last opportunity for the 33-year-old to win a series in South Africa as a captain, because India would most likely tour the rainbow nation next after 3-4 years only and by that time Kohli will definitely not be the captain of the Indian side. 

South Africa on the other hand would be looking to maintain their stature as a virgin destination for Test series wins as far as subcontinent sides are concerned. For that to happen, they have enough motivation now, having drawn the series level at the Wanderers in Johannesburg. 

South Africa vs India: Match Details

Match Number- 3rd Test

Time and Date: 01:30 pm IST, January 11, 2022

Venue: The Newlands, Cape Town

Broadcast and Live Stream: Star Sports and Hotstar

Pitch Report

The pitch at Newlands, much like other venues in South Africa, will be supporting pace and bounce and hence four pacers policy will once again be applied by both the skippers. If the average score is any indication, then the pitch is best suited to bat on the first and the second day as it remains intact on these two days, but as the days pass, it becomes more helpful for the bowlers. 

Weather Forecast

First day of the five-day Test match will see a lot of rain but it would generally be passing showers except for the first few hours in the morning where it has been forecasted to rain consistently. The remaining four days are expected to remain warm and sunny and only some clouds might hover for a few hours here and there in between, but that would resin inconsequential as far as its effects on the proceedings of the game are concerned. 

Team News

India

The Indian team would be without the services of Mohammed Siraj who has been ruled out due to side strain. Apart from him, skipper Kohli would be making a comeback and thus Hanuma Vihari, who played well enough in the Test, would have to make way. 

And if Kohli and coach Rahul Dravid are bold enough to oversee the fifties by Ajinkya Rahane and Cheteshwar Pujara in the second innings of the last game, then Vihari might stay at the cots of one of them. 

In place of Siraj, either Umesh Yadav or Ishant Sharma would get a go. Most probably it would be Umesh seeing the kind of success hit the deck bowlers like Mohammad Shami and Jasprit Bumrah have had. 

Probable XI

Mayank Agarwal, KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (c), Ajinkya Rahane/ Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant (WK), Shardul Thakur, Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohammad Shami, Umesh Yadav, Jasprit Bumrah.

South Africa

South Africa have so far not announced any injuries and in that case, they can either pitch the same XI once again or bring in an extra batter in place of Keshav Maharaj to strengthen the batting as Aiden Markram and skipper Elgar himself can roll their arm for spin bowling options, a requirement of which seem negligible. Sarel Erwee could finally have his moment as he can also bowl spin. 

Probable XI

Dean Elgar (C), Aiden Markram, Temba Bavuma, Rassie van der Dussen, Keegan Petersen, Kyle Verreynne (WK), Keshav Maharaj / Sarel Erwee, Marco Jansen, Kagiso Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Duanne Olivier

CE Fantasy XI

Dean Elgar, KL Rahul, Temba Bavuma, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant, Marco Jansen, Shardul Thakur, Ravichandran Ashwin, Kagiso Rabada, Duanne Olivier, Jasprit Bumrah

Captain- Dean Elgar

Vice-Captain- Shardul Thakur