India cricket team find themselves in a do-or-die situation as they will take on South Africa in what is a must-win IND vs SA 3rd ODI in Visakhapatnam on Saturday. After a nail-biting 17-run win in the 1st ODI, KL Rahul and co. were handed a 4-wicket defeat by the Proteas in Ranchi. A mammoth 359-run target set by India for SA wasn’t enough as poor show from the bowlers coupled with the dew factor allowed the visitors to win the game and level the series 1-1.
Following their loss in Raipur, India can afford to make some changes to their playing XI for the must-win encounter in Vizag.
Predicted India playing XI for IND vs SA 3rd ODI
Yashasvi Jaiswal
Rohit Sharma
Virat Kohli
Ruturaj Gaikwad
Rishabh Pant
KL Rahul (C, WK)
Ravindra Jadeja
Nitish Kumar Reddy
Harshit Rana
Kuldeep Yadav
Arshdeep Singh
On bench: Dhruv Jurel, Washington Sundar, Prasidh Krishna, Tilak Varma
The first change India could make to their playing XI is benching Washington Sundar. Apart from the fact that he has been least used with the ball, the all-rounder has struggled to deliver while batting at number 5. In the IND vs SA 1st ODI, he managed to score just 13 runs. In the 2nd ODI, he scored just 1 run before he was run out.
KL Rahul can replace Sundar with Pant in the playing XI, given that the latter has more experience in terms of batting at that number in this format of the game. Another option that the team can exercise is that of Tilak Varma – who has been warming the bench so far in the series.
The second change that India can make to their line-up is the exclusion of Prasidh Krishna. The Karnataka pacer was the most expensive Indian bowler in the 2nd ODI, having conceded over 80 runs in 8.2 overs. He didn’t have a great outing in the 1st ODI either, where he finished with figures of 1/48.
Nitish Kumar Reddy can come into the playing XI in place of Prasidh. The all-rounder’s entry into the line-up will not only boost India’s batting depth but will also give the team a third seam option.
India squad for IND vs SA ODIs
Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Tilak Varma, KL Rahul (C) (wk), Rishabh Pant (wk), Washington Sundar, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Nitish Kumar Reddy, Harshit Rana, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Prasidh Krishna, Arshdeep Singh, Dhruv Jurel
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