India unlikely to change team while South Africa battles injuries
As the cricket caravan moves to the coastal city of Visakhapatnam, the stakes couldn't be higher for the series finale. Following a tough loss in Raipur, the Men in Blue are gearing up for the decisive third One Day International against South Africa. Despite the setback in the previous game, team management appears set to back the existing combination rather than panic.
India’s Selection Dilemma: Stability Over Change
Reports suggest that India will field an unchanged lineup for the Vizag clash. Ruturaj Gaikwad has silenced any potential critics with a magnificent century in the second ODI, effectively locking in his spot in the top order. His aggressive batting provided one of the few silver linings in the Raipur defeat.
However, the bowling department remains a topic of debate. Pacer Prasidh Krishna struggled to find his rhythm in the last match, leaking runs and looking unsettled. Under normal circumstances, he might have faced the axe, but India’s hands are tied. With senior speedsters Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj rested for this series to manage their workload, the squad lacks the depth to rotate the fast bowlers. Consequently, Krishna is expected to get another opportunity to redeem himself.
South Africa: Forced Changes and Strategy
Conversely, the visitors have been forced into a corner due to fitness issues. The Proteas paid a heavy price for their victory in Raipur, losing two key players to injury. Fast bowler Nandre Burger and opening batter Tony de Zorzi were both forced off the field and are unavailable for the final.
To fill these gaps, South Africa is likely to bring in Ottneil Baartman as a direct replacement for Burger. In the batting department, Rubin Hermann is the frontrunner to replace the injured de Zorzi. There is also speculation regarding the Vizag surface. While historically a batting paradise, the pitch has recently offered assistance to spinners. This might tempt the Proteas to field Prenelan Subrayen for extra spin options, though fielding an extra batter on this high-scoring ground is the safer bet.
Predicted Playing XIs
India:
Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Ruturaj Gaikwad, KL Rahul (C & WK), Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Harshit Rana, Arshdeep Singh, Prasidh Krishna.
South Africa:
Quinton de Kock (WK), Temba Bavuma (C), Aiden Markram, Matthew Breetzke, Rubin Hermann, Dewald Brevis, Marco Jansen, Corbin Bosch, Keshav Maharaj, Ottneil Baartman, Lungi Ngidi.
