Another turner predicted as India and South Africa clash in Nagpur

South Africa’s brilliant form in away Test series is under threat as the Freedom Series moves forward. The Proteas last lost an away Test match series in 2006 against Sri Lanka. During the last nine years, South Africa has remarkably notched up two away series wins against the mighty Australians in 2008-09 and 2012-13. South Africa has also beaten England (2008), West Indies (2010), New Zealand (2011-12), Pakistan (2007-08), Sri Lanka (2014), Bangladesh (2007-8) and Zimbabwe (2014) during this period.

The Proteas, however, have been unable to register series wins against India in their last two attempts. In both 2007-08 and 2009-10, South Africa left India with a 1-1 draw. With India leading the ongoing Test series 1-0, it is highly unlikely that the Proteas will be able to improve the record.

"It will turn, surely. It will not be too different from the pitches we have seen so far in the series. India will have the home advantage"- these were the words of Amar Karlekar, the Vidarbha Cricket Association curator in an interaction to TOI. South Africa has lost 27 of the fallen 30 wickets in the series to the spinners, and with the pitch at Jamtha predicted to be spin-friendly, the count is only expected to go up.

However, the South Africans had a match to remember in the last outing at the VCA Stadium in Nagpur in 2010. South Africa thrashed the hosts by an innings and six runs to take a 1-0 lead in the series. Hashim Amla, who has been going through a lean patch in the series making 43, 0 and 7 in his last three outings, had scored an unbeaten 253 in that match. Dale Steyn, who is doubtful for the match, also has good memories of Jamtha, picking up a ten-wicket haul in the same match.

In team news, Indians are only likely to make one change, with Stuart Binny certain to miss out. The spin-friendly track will see India playing leggie Amit Mishra or go for an extra batsman in Rohit Sharma. The rest of the Indian XI is unlikely to change, barring any last-minute injuries.

On the South African front, bowling spearhead Dale Steyn is the big worry. Steyn will have a late fitness test in the morning of the match. If Steyn does not play, the Proteas will go in with the same XI from the last match at Bangalore.

With no weather concerns for the next five days in Nagpur, India will be looking to wrap up the Test series before the fourth Test at Feroz Shah Kotla in Delhi.

The five-day match will commence at 09.30 IST on Wednesday.

Possible line ups

India: Virat Kohli (capt), Murali Vijay, Shikhar Dhawan, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Wriddhiman Saha (wk), Ravindra Jadeja, Amit Mishra/Rohit Sharma, R Ashwin, Ishant Sharma, Varun Aaron

South Africa: Hashim Amla (capt), Dean Elgar, Stiaan van Zyl, Faf du Plessis, AB de Villiers (vice-capt), JP Duminy, Dane Vilas (wk), Kyle Abbott/ Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, Kagiso Rabada, Imran Tahir