New Delhi: The third and final ODI of the three-match India-South Africa ODI series will be played at Newlands Cricket Ground (NCG) in Cape Town. South Africa defeated India in the first two ODIs to take an unassailable 2-0 lead. KL Rahul-led visitors will aim to avoid a clean sweep by winning the series finale.
South Africa beat India by 31 runs in the series opener. The visitors were off to a good start in Ind vs SA 1st ODI, but things got out of control after India's middle-order collapsed and eventually they lost the match. In Ind vs SA 2nd ODI, India's middle-order failed once again and this time the bowlers also completely flopped.
Talking about India's performance in the last two ODIs, both batters and bowlers have delivered average performances which might urge the team management to make many changes for the last ODI and test the bench strength.
Some senior players who flopped in the previous ODIs might be dropped in the series finale and some young players can be given a chance.
Shreyas Iyer failed to score runs in first two ODIs and might be dropped in the final ODI. Apart from him, pace bowler Bhuvneshwar Kumar, senior spinner Yuzvendra Chahal might be benched as well in the Ind vs SA 3rd ODI.
Keeping in mind the workload management, Jasprit Bumrah can also be rested. Overall, Team India might make 4 to 5 changes.
Young batters Ruturaj Gaikwad, Suryakumar Yadav and Ishan Kishan can be given a chance to play in the Ind vs SA 3rd ODI. Apart from this, young bowler Prasidh Krishna might make his ODI debut, replacing Bhuvneshwar Kumar. Spinner Jayant Yadav can also be given a chance in place of Chahal or R Ashwin. If Bumrah is rested, then Deepak Chahar can also be a part of the playing XI in the last ODI.
India's predicted playing XI: KL Rahul (c), Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ruturaj Gaikwad, Venkatesh Iyer, Jayant Yadav, Shardul Thakur, Bhuvneshwar Kumar/Prasidh Krishna, Deepak Chahar, Mohammad Siraj