SA vs IND 3rd ODI: PREVIEW

South Africa has always been India's Achilles heel since they started touring in 1992-93. Barring the swaggering 5-1 victory in 2018, India have always returned home empty handed.
Friday's game was no different and the visitors were humbled yet again by a firing top order of De Kock and Malan. 

India yet again failed to register a good start, a problem which has been bothering them since NZ odi series in early 2020. Its lot to do with the absence of their mainstay Rohit Sharma and some baffling selection calls in Shaw and Mayank who were given a short rope.  Another area of concern has been their bowling. 256*, 85, 93, 106, 156, 142, 135, 110, 132 are just some of the opening stands against India since start of 2020. 
With the dust settled on the series, India has an opportunity to try and give some new names a game. Gaikwad & Siraj are the 2 names that are expected to play in the final ODI. Ruturaj has been in a zen mode since the IPL following with tons of runs in SMAT and VHT. Bumrah may be rested & Siraj/Chahar could play in place of him.
 
South Africa as usual will try and rotate their quicks. They could rest Ngidi and have Jansen back or may try Parnell. Conditions are expected to be different in Cape Town from Paarl. Indian team would certainly like to play on a quicker wicket which brings their quicks into the picture.

 

Key Players

India
Ruturaj Gaikwad: Will likely get a game. Scored 603 runs in VHT at an average of 150.75 while striking well over 110.
Shreyas Iyer: After having no impact in the 1st 2 ODIs, he will be feeling the heat. Things can get tricky in terms of his spot once KL, Hardik and Jadeja are all available  and fit. He will be playing for much more than preventing a series whitewash.
KL Rahul: His approach in 2nd ODI was more disappointing than his failure in 1st. His execution against Spin in Powerplay is going to be interesting to watch.

South Africa
Aiden Markram: Troubled the visitors with his bowling. Major reason of tying down Indian openers in Powerplay. 
Marco Jansen: The conditions at Paarl didn't suit him. Cape Town can offer him a lot more.
David Miller: Has hardly been needed this series. A well set Miller is a sight to behold in end overs.

Probable XI
India: Dhawan, Gaikwad, Kohli, Pant, Shreyas, KL Rahul, Venkatesh, Thakur, Ashwin, Chahar, Chahal 
South Africa: de Kock, Malan, Bavuma, Markram, Dussen, Miller, Phehlukwayo, Maharaj, Magala, Jansen, Shamsi
 

 
Head to Head

Overall: South Africa leads 48-35
In SA: South Africa leads 24-10
Last 10 matches: India leads 7-3

Match Ups

South Africa
Malan vs Bumrah: 14 runs for 2 dismissals
Markram vs Bumrah: 22 runs for 2 dismissals
De Kock vs Bhuvi: 184 runs for no dismissals
De Kock vs Chahal: 25 runs for 2 dismissals

India
Kohli vs Phehlukwayo: 114 runs for 2 dismissals
Iyer vs Ngidi: 16 runs for 3 dismissals

Form Update
(runs Scored in the last 5 ODI Innings)

India
284: Rishabh Pant
244: KL Rahul
236: Shikhar Dhawan
180: Virat Kohli
127: Shardul Thakur
  91: Shreyas Iyer

South Africa
325: Quinton de Kock
252: Janneman Malan
246: van der Dusssen
196: Temba Bavuma
160: Aiden Markram
  80: A Phehlukwayo
 

Fantasy XI

Replace Gaikwad with KL Rahul if he isn't in the squad.