India vs South Africa | Predicted XI for third ODI in Cape Town
BCCI
After going up 2-0 in the six-match ODI series, the Indian cricket team will look forward to maintaining their stronghold as they take on South Africa in Cape Town next. Without the likes of AB de Villiers, Faf du Plessis, and Quinton de Kock, the Proteas are unlikely to give tough competition.
Openers
Rohit Sharma- After missing the last Test match where BCCI favoured Ajinkya Rahane over him, Rohit has struggled to find form in the first two ODIs where he managed only 20 and 15 runs respectively. However, both his dismissals were poor shot selection amidst confident stroke plays and India won't be much concerned with it. He remains irreplaceable as he can finish any opponent single-handedly on his day.
Shikhar Dhawan- Alongside Rohit, Dhawan will open the innings for India. After falling short of a half-century in Durban owing to cheap run-out, the southpaw stayed unbeaten at 51 runs in Centurion standing alongside Kohli to steer India to a win. India would hope him to be in good touch as they try to obliterate any possibility of a series loss.
Middle-order
Virat Kohli – The Indian skipper transformed himself from the longest format of the game to the 50-overs in the most seamless of manners. He was the highest run-scorer in the three-match Test series and after playing two OD
Ajinkya Rahane- After getting his rhythm somewhat back in the third and last Test of the series, the right-hander has grabbed the opportunity in the ODIs too coming in at the number four position. The Indian skipper called him the best option for the No. 4 position and the Mumbai batsman has maintained his trust by playing a match-winning 79-run knock in the first ODI, while he didn’t get a chance to bat in the second game.
Kedar Jadhav – With the inclusion of the 32-year-old player, India
MS Dhoni – Though Dhoni's crucial services have not been called upon in the series so far, he ended 2017 on a positive note and remains in a good touch. He proved his worth by playing a 65-run knock in the challenging conditions of Dharamsala last year. In 2017, Dhoni has played 29 ODI games scoring 788 runs in 22 innings while performing his role
All-rounder
Hardik Pandya - The Baroda player impressed the fans with his 93-run knock in the first Test in Cape Town. In the last two games, he didn’t get a chance to bat but has delivered seven and five overs spell in Durban and Centurion conceding 41 and 34 runs respectively. He is a tremendous asset on the field and has been involved in in four wickets in the last two games.
Bowlers
Bhuvneshwar Kumar–Bhuvnehswar Kumar will have fond memories of Cape Town, where he terrorized the South African batsman with his bowling in the first Test. Though Kumar ended the Test series with 10 wickets in two Tests, he has claimed one wicket each in the last two ODIs. He will be looking to get back in form tomorrow.
Jasprit Bumrah – In his first visit to South Africa, Bumrah is one of those players who impressed all with his performance as he ended the series taking 14 wickets at an average of 25.21. Like Bhuvneshwar, Bumrah has also managed only two wickets in two games so far. His ability to stick with his line and length has forced India to include him in each and every game and should come in handy in the death-overs again.
Yuzvendra Chahal– Chahal is making it hard for the management to ignore him in the longest format. He was the best bowler for India last game having figures of 5/22 and also became the third spinner to take a five-wicket haul in ODIs on the South African soil after Nicky Boje (5/21) and Muttiah Muralitharan (5/23). He will hope to keep his cruising run intact.
Kuldeep Yadav – The 23-year-old is in the second position of top wicket-takers with six wickets behind Chahal. The chinaman bowler has been brilliant so far for India claiming 28 wickets in 16 ODIs. He also produced his best performance in Centurion when he grabbed three wickets in the form of Aiden Markram, David Miller, and Kagiso Rabada while giving only 20 runs.
