Last Updated on 5 years by Charbel Coorey
IND vs SA 3rd Test Preview Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report. India vs South Africa 3rd Test Dream11 Possible Playing 11 Pitch Report
In 2010, a very highly-rated South Africa side toured India. The fact that it was just two Tests felt like such a robbery, given the high-profile nature of the series.
Now, India have the Proteas wishing this series was just two Tests. After two very strong wins, including an innings margin in Pune, India have flexed their muscle and have further proven just how difficult it is to win a Test in India. After all, they have lost just one of their last 31 Tests at home, and look good to continue building on that record here.
“We have to fight our way out of two losses”, says a still positive Faf du Plessis. The South Africa captain has spent plenty of time this series watching on as India’s batsmen run riot, with his top order not nearly delivering anything as such. The World Test Championship means that games like these still have relevance, and South Africa need to display more fight than they have for the most part in this series.
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Key to an India win
India return to Ranchi, where Cheteshwar Pujara ground Australia into the dirt in 2017. The Indians weren’t able to win that match, but with a “typical Indian wicket” expected here, both the batsmen and bowlers can fill their boots.
After all, South Africa’s spinners have not built any sustained pressure. As a result, India’s top four have flourished, totaling 1,097 runs in two Tests. Like the first two matches, Mayank Agarwal and Rohit Sharma have a key role in blunting South Africa’s seamers, then creating a licence to go after South Africa’s spinners.
This time, Keshav Maharaj, South Africa’s most experienced spinner in the squad, is out. So, India’s spinners can look to dominate South Africa’s even more this time, with Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravi Jadeja to play a key role as always. It is the pressure they build that helps the seamers flourish, and if India work well as a unit again, South Africa are in for another tough time.
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Key to a South Africa win
In Pune, Vernon Philander and Keshav Maharaj completely showed up their top order. Philander and Maharaj combined to play out 461 balls, compared to 451 in total from the Proteas top six. It was a harsh reminder of just how much South Africa’s top order lacks in these conditions, and in Ranchi, they need to show signs of progress.
In addition to their poor batting, the Proteas have lacked quality and consistency with the ball. Kagiso Rabada was excellent in Pune, but you need more than one bowler to succeed in India. South Africa’s best bet in this Test is to increase the number of maidens, building pressure on the Indians and force mistakes. Can they make inroads into India’s top four, and place pressure on their middle order for the first time?
Pitch and Conditions
A ground staff member has described the Ranchi pitch as a “typical Indian wicket”, after a pretty flat surface for the 2017 Test vs Australia. So, the spinners will have a say. In terms of the weather, some rain is forecast for each day of the match. Perhaps South Africa’s best avenue for some respite?
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Possible Playing 11
India look pretty settled. However, there is a chance Kuldeep Yadav could get a chance to play given the conditions. Ishant Sharma or Umesh Yadav could make way.
India: 1. Mayank Agarwal, 2. Rohit Sharma, 3. Cheteshwar Pujara, 4. Virat Kohli (c), 5. Ajinkya Rahane, 6. Wriddhiman Saha (wk), 7. Ravindra Jadeja, 8. Ravichandran Ashwin, 9. Mohammed Shami, 10. Kuldeep Yadav/Ishant Sharma, 11. Umesh Yadav
South Africa look far less settled. Keshav Maharaj is out with a shoulder injury. Aiden Markram injured his wrist in frustration after his second innings dismissal. Anrich Nortje found the going tough in Pune. So did South Africa’s top six. A number of combinations are possible.
South Africa: 1. Dean Elgar, 2. Temba Bavuma, 3. Zubayr Hamza, 4. Faf du Plessis (c), 5. Theunis de Bruyn/Heinrich Klaasen, 6. Quinton de Kock (wk), 7. Vernon Philander, 8. Dane Piedt/Senuran Muthusamy, 9. George Linde, 10. Kagiso Rabada, 11. Lungi Ngidi
Stats and Facts
- India achieved their 11th straight series win at home.
- India have lost just one of their past 31 Tests at home.
- South Africa’s top scorer this series is Dean Elgar with 216. Three Indians have 300+ runs (Agarwal, Rohit and Virat).
- Cheteshwar Pujara scored a double ton in Ranchi in 2017.
- This is just the second Test to be held in Ranchi.
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Dream11 Prediction
Option 1:
Option 2:
Match Prediction
If the weather holds, India should prove too good once again.
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