India and South Africa eager to go one-up as Rajkot fears disruption in the 3rd ODI

India and South Africa eager to go one-up as Rajkot fears disruption in the 3^rd ODI: The India v South Africa 3^rd ODI has been in talks even before we were done with the 2^nd ODI, with a constant gloom of disruption since political activist Hardik Patel has issued a threat to throw the match into disarray over the manner in which tickets are allotted. Apart from that both the teams, India and South Africa will want to win this one at Rajkot since it will give them an advantage from a position of balance going into the decisive phase of the 5-match series.

India:

Team India creped ascendency by not just winning the 2^nd ODI, but more so with the manner in which they won it. From a team that lost a match that was for them to lose, India won a game they looked certain to concede at the half-way stage. Though the problems they had ahead of the second game continue to be a question, their top order hasn’t really fired together; Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane have been good, but the form of Shikhar Dhawan who has had starts but hasn’t been able to quantify them into knocks of substantiality with respect to the game must concern the management.

Virat Kohli’s lack of runs has perturbed the team, though one can say he was unlucky to get run-out in the second match but, luck turns away only when you fail to grab it. If India has to have a substantial control on its batting innings Virat has to get the runs. Another player who needs to kick in is Suresh Raina, who was supposed to play the role of a finisher, at least that is how MS Dhoni projected him ahead of this series but he has played irresponsible shots to find himself resting back in the pavilion.

Dhoni was the brightest spot for India in the Indore ODI and if that is anything to go by South Africa now face the real danger of running into him, whenever they cut through the Indian line-up. And since he has his batting form, more importantly confidence back, he might pull out rabbits that are capable enough to show South Africa stars in the day from his hat.

The bowling department too demands attention and alteration since the 3 seamers strategy hasn’t quite worked and the way South Africa have looked out of breath against the 2 spinners Axar Patel and Harbhajan Singh in the Indore ODI, adding Amit Mishra into the attack is probably the best forward, while they can easily bench one among Umesh Yadav, Mohit Sharma and Bhuvneshwar Kumar.

South Africa:

South Africa too have problems to address, their top order hasn’t fired, both the openers Hashim Amla and Quinton de Kock have had troubles getting past the 20s and the 30s. And that has added to the pressure, Faf du Plessis, AB de Villiers and JP Duminy walk out under. The three of them have done considerably well but, have had their problems against spin, and if India are able to exploit this vulnerability, Protea batting strength might look uncharged.

They will also need their lower middle order to fire; David Miller is yet to have an impression on any of the matches apart from his fielding, Farhaan Bahardein complemented AB de Villiers well in the 1^st ODI but could not stand up when they needed him the most in the previous match.

Bowling is the department South Africa will be most relaxed with but, there again the Indian batsmen have very ably exploited their weakness of not having a specialist 5^th bowler. Duminy and Bahardein collectively bowled 10 overs in the 1^st match and conceded 74 runs and shared a wicket between them. MS Dhoni & Co. came sever against them in the 2^nd ODI as well accumulating 63 safe runs in the 10 overs. And one probably got the feeling that these were the only 10 overs that let the pressure ease and allowed Dhoni to free his arms, since all other bowlers had an economy well under 5.

Last 5 encounters –

India – WLWWW
South Africa – LWWLW

Pitch

The pitch like it has been throughout the series promises to be a delicacy for the batsmen. Weather conditions look stable and there will be no impact of the dew either. The Rajkot pitch has usually been dry and could assist the spinners if they maintain a consistent attacking line, while the faster bowlers will once again have to sweat out with minimum assistance and maximum efforts expected.

Stats

1- There has been only 1 ODI played at the SCA (Saurashtra Cricket Association) Stadium, which was a high scoring match between India and England in January, 2013 which went the visitor’s way, as England won the match by 9 runs.

12- It has been 12 innings since Virat Kohli last scored a half-century in ODI cricket. In the 17 ODIs in, 2015 Kohli averages a meager 28.64, which is also his lowest batting average in a year since he made his debut in 2008.

13- South Africa’s David Miller hasn’t scored a fifty in his last 13 ODI innings. Despite his poor run Miller averages 47.71 from the 21 ODIs he has played in 2015.

Probable squads

India:

Rohit Sharma, Shikhar Dhawan, Ajinkya Rahane, Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni, Suresh Raina, Axar Patel, Harbhajan Singh, Amit Mishra, Umesh Yadav, Mohit Sharma.

South Africa:

Hashim Amla, Quinton de Kock, Faf du Plessis, JP Duminy, AB de Villiers, Farhaan Bahardien, David Miller, Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel, Kagiso Rabada, Imran Tahir.