India finds itself in the enviable position of having enough options to pick its playing 11 from, especially with 17 members named for the Nagpur Test.
Depending on the conditions, Virat Kohli will have to decide if he wants to stick with three medium-pacers or bring in the additional spinner in Amit Mishra.
South Africa is aware that, for it to have any hope of registering its first series win in India since 2000, it must win this Test. Given the way South Africa has shaped up in this series, that is a tall order. But I believe, if any team in international cricket is capable of bouncing back, it has to be South Africa, the No. 1 Test side.
However, time is running out and South Africa will need its traditional strength — pace bowling — to rouse itself from the diffidence of the last two Tests.
Amla desperate
Hashim Amla will be desperate for the new ball to make inroads, but, in India, there is no better time for a pacer to be bowling than with the older ball, because no cricket ball in the world reverse swings better than the SG Test.
South Africa will perhaps miss the services of a quality left-arm spinner. Historically, India’s batsmen have had a problem against the left-arm spinner bowling over the stumps and into the rough, a defensive line in the most part.
The successes of Monty Panesar, even Paul Harris and Michael Clarke, testify to the effectiveness of the left-arm spinner on these tracks. Dean Elgar did some damage in Mohali, but I am not sure you can call him a specialist bowler. How Amla will be wishing he had a Harris or a Jadeja at his disposal! More than anything else, though, Amla will be wishing for some runs under his belt. Amla can ill afford to hope that A.B. de Villiers will always bail out the team. Elgar, Amla and the experienced Faf du Plessis must take some burden off AB’s shoulders. I also feel, with AB in such great touch and du Plessis struggling, it won’t be a bad idea for a switch in batting spots.
AB factor
AB at No. 3 can put the bowlers immediately under pressure. Thus far, India’s spinners have been allowed to bowl as they pleased, and de Villiers has invariably walked in with his side on the backfoot. A change in strategy won’t be out of place, especially with things not working out for the South Africans.
I am sure the teams will be greeted by another dry surface with the promise of plenty of turn because the scars of the limited-over series losses are still fresh and India is keen to make amends. I have no problems with that, because that is the privilege playing at home confers on you — the opportunity to maximise your strengths.
That India’s strength is South Africa’s weakness is a happy coincidence from Kohli’s perspective. The trick now lies in making the most of that coincidence. — Hawkeye | Chivach Sports