Ranchi: South Africa pacers Kagiso Rabada and Anrich Nortje guided visitors to a solid start by picking up three crucial wickets in the opening session of Day 1 in the third and final Test match of the Freedom Series here at JSCA International Stadium Complex. Last match's centurion Mayank Agarwal was sent back to the dugout by Rabada whereas Cheteshwar Pujara was out on a duck. Skipper Virat Kohli was plumped in front of wickets by Rabada to pick his second wicket.
-
Big day for Shahbaz Nadeem as he is all set to make his Test debut 🇮🇳🇮🇳 #TeamIndia #INDvSA @Paytm pic.twitter.com/3hfYTaVyDL
— BCCI (@BCCI) October 19, 2019 " class="align-text-top noRightClick twitterSection" data="
">Big day for Shahbaz Nadeem as he is all set to make his Test debut 🇮🇳🇮🇳 #TeamIndia #INDvSA @Paytm pic.twitter.com/3hfYTaVyDL
— BCCI (@BCCI) October 19, 2019Big day for Shahbaz Nadeem as he is all set to make his Test debut 🇮🇳🇮🇳 #TeamIndia #INDvSA @Paytm pic.twitter.com/3hfYTaVyDL
— BCCI (@BCCI) October 19, 2019
Earlier, Team India made few changes in the playing XI as Shahbaz Nadeem is set to make his Test debut and Ishant Sharma was rested. The left-arm spinner was given his maiden Test cap by the skipper Kohli.
South Africa's Lungi Ngidi is set to play his first game of the series while George Linde makes his Test debut.
After winning the toss Virat said, "It's a no-brainer to bat first on this one. I don't think it's gonna be slow but it will keep low. Should spin at a decent pace. As long as it turns with pace on the ball, we don't mind the bounce. Just one change - Ishant has been given a break. Shahbaz Nadeem makes his debut. Unfortunately, Kuldeep couldn't pull up. We checked on him yesterday but he didn't respond well enough from his shoulder niggle. Nadeem is the local boy and it's a dream debut. We'll have to continue to work hard and look to win sessions of cricket. That's the only message I look to pass on."
Faf said, "It shows that it isn't meant to be (about using Bavuma as a proxy skipper for luck). Important toss as this looks the driest surface of the series. It's about the first innings really and we need to put runs on the board when we bat. One forced change with Aiden (Markram). Few other changes as well. Change in the batting order. Quinton will open the batting. Hopefully, he can put pressure on the Indian bowlers, like what Rohit has done for India. Heinrich Klaasen comes in as the wicket-keeper. A new spinner in George Linde makes his Test debut. Two weeks ago he was 1000 miles away from playing Test cricket but that's how quickly things happen. Lungi Ngidi also comes in. We've gone in with five bowlers to take the 20 wickets and hopefully, we can. Starting in India is a tough challenge and all teams that have played here will vouch for it. We did compete well in the first game but it didn't go our way last game. We're ready for the fight."
Both the teams would aim for victory as WTC points would be on offer. There are 40 points on offer and a 3-0 series whitewash, both of which India would be targeted against the hapless visitors in Ranchi.
Dominating the Proteas in all the departments, India won the first Test in Visakhapatnam by 203 runs before inflicting an innings and 137-run defeat on the hapless visitors in Pune to regain the Freedom Trophy.
India, who have 200 points from four games, have a massive 140-point lead over nearest rivals New Zealand and Sri Lanka in the WTC standings. Skipper Virat Kohli has also made it clear that there is plenty to play for in the final Test and the team cannot afford a drop in intensity.
Teams:
South Africa (Playing XI): Dean Elgar, Quinton de Kock, Zubayr Hamza, Faf du Plessis(c), Temba Bavuma, Heinrich Klaasen(w), George Linde, Dane Piedt, Kagiso Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Lungi Ngidi
India (Playing XI): Mayank Agarwal, Rohit Sharma, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli(c), Ajinkya Rahane, Ravindra Jadeja, Wriddhiman Saha(w), Ravichandran Ashwin, Shahbaz Nadeem, Umesh Yadav, Mohammed Shami
