South Africa vs India, 3rd Test- South Africa Predicted XI

After sealing the three-match Test series comprehensively, the Proteas will aim to continue their winning momentum going into the final fixture at Johannesburg. Leading the series 2-0 after wins at Cape Town and Centurion, the hosts will try and accomplish a whitewash against the numero uno ranked India in the upcoming dead-rubber.

However, South Africa will be without opening batsman Aiden Markram who has been sidelined after he suffered a mild left quadriceps strain in the previous fixture. The dynamic youngster put up an impressive display with the willow during South Africa’s first innings at Centurion scoring a crucial 94 to give the hosts a stable start and set them up for a total of 335.

Markram’s absence meant that substitute fielder Theunis de Bruyn took the field and now he looks probable to feature in the final Test as well.

We take a look at how the Proteas will shape up ahead of the final fixture at Johannesburg, set to kickoff tomorrow.

Openers (Dean Elgar, Theunis de Bruyn)

Theunis de Bruyn who replaced an injured Markram in the field at Centurion enters the starting eleven. De Bruyn has played 3 Tests for South Africa and has also opened the innings in one of them – against New Zealand at Hamilton in 2017.

The 25-year-old along will Elgar will have a task cut-out to establish a strong partnership and provide a good foundation at the top.

Middle Order (Hashim Amla, AB de Villiers, Faf du Plessis, Quinton de Kock)

The South African middle-order features some of the best in the business and forms the backbone of the team. With the likes of Amla, skipper Faf du Plessis, and de Villiers, the Indian bowlers will face an uphill task if they can’t dismiss the triad as quickly possible.

However, Hashim Amla has been having a mixed campaign in the ongoing series. A linchpin in the Proteas batting lineup, Amla has struggled to put runs on the scoreboard. Apart from the first innings of the last Test where he scored a crucial 82, the 34-year-old has failed to score the necessary runs.

All-rounders (Chris Morris, Vernon Philander)

Depth in batting is of prime significance in order for a team to succeed in Test cricket. South Africa have Vernon Philander and Chris Morris who are no mugs with the willow. However, bowling is their primary role and both have impressed for the Proteas in the fast-bowling department.

Bowlers (Kasigo Rabada, Lungi Ngidi, Morne Morkel)

With a lush green Johannesburg pitch in the offing, the hosts are expected to go ahead with a full-throttle pace attack. Lungi Ngidi, who earned his debut in the second Test has been a revelation for the South African side. The tall, robust pacer went on to take 7 wickets in Centurion, six of which came in the second innings alone.

With the likes of Rabada and Morkel alongside him, the hosts will once again be expected to run through Indian batting lineup and trouble them with the lengths, as has been evident in the series.

To get all recent updates on South Africa vs India series and other important cricket news of the day, stay tune to https://www.crictracker.com/