South Africa vs India 2018: India's probable playing XI for third ODI

After outplaying the hosts in every facet of the game in the first two ODIs, Team India will take the field on Wednesday knowing that a win would all but confirm their first-ever series win on South African shores. The crucial day/night encounter will be played in Cape Town, the same ground which hosted the first Test of the tour.

Skipper Virat Kohli had chosen to go unchanged in the second ODI, a match which saw SA getting bowled out for 118, their lowest-ever ODI score at home, and India romped home with nine wickets in hand.

Here we'll predict whether Kohli will go ahead with the same XI again or if there's a change or two in store.

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Opener

Rohit Sharma

With scores of 11, 10, 10, 47, 20 and 15 on the ongoing tour, Rohit Sharma has had a difficult time in South Africa so far. The opener hasn't looked his usual self on pitches which haven't been as conducive to his style as the tracks in the sub-continent.

However, with Rahane taking the number four slot, it looks highly unlikely that the team composition will be tinkered with. This means that Rohit will be opening the innings for India with...

Shikhar Dhawan

The Delhi batsman has looked sharp in both the ODI matches thus far and would want to continue his run of form. A half-century in the second match must have done a world of good to his confidence after his flashy 35-run knock was cut short because of a run-out in the first encounter.

If Dhawan's partner regains his mojo as well, South Africa will have a hard time breaking through these two.

Middle Order

Virat Kohli(c)

There's absolutely no doubt that the Indian skipper will walk out after the fall of first wicket. Top-scorer of the Test series, Kohli has been India's best batsman on the tour by quite a margin. A century in the first match and an unbeaten 46 in the second has seen Kohli climb on top of the run-scoring charts for the ODI series as well.

Ajinkya Rahane

A composed 79-run knock in the first match at number four has seen Rahane become the top contender for the much-coveted spot on the Indian ODI batting order. After being overlooked for Rohit Sharma in the first two Test matches, Rahane roared back to form in the third match and has carried that touch to the ODI series as well.

All-rounders and Wicketkeeper

Kedar Jadhav

The Maharashtra 'all-rounder' has somehow managed to hold on to his place in the Indian side in spite of contributing close to nothing. An average batsman, a part-time bowler and a sub-par fielder, Jadhav is usually used as a floater in the batting order and as the sixth bowler. Team India might as well try Axar Patel in place of him but that looks highly unlikely as the management wouldn't want to tinker with the winning combination.

MS Dhoni(wk)

The wicketkeeper-batsman, in ideal conditions, will walk in to bat as a number six, however, in case the team loses two to three wickets in quick succession, he might as well be promoted to five. On top of being one of the most trusted batsmen and the gloveman, Dhoni has a huge influence on the team and especially, on both the wrist spinners.

Hardik Pandya

The flashy Baroda all-rounder hasn't had the best of tours and since a 93-run knock in the very first innings of the opening Test, Pandya hasn't been able to assert his authority on the hosts. Nevertheless, Kohli has invested a lot of faith in the youngster and he's sure to retain his place in the side.

Spinners

Kuldeep Yadav

The UP youngster has picked six wickets in the first two ODI matches and looks set to rival his fellow wrist spinner Yuzvendra Chahal (7 wickets) for the top spot on the wicket-taking list. Three wickets in the first match and three in the second, Kuldeep has been economical as well (3.37).

Yuzvendra Chahal

The leg-spinner was at his brilliant best in the second ODI and dismantled the South African batting line-up, picking five wickets for 22 runs. With two wickets in the first match as well, Chahal's performance in the next four matches is going to be very crucial for the Indian team.

Pacers

Bhuvneshwar Kumar

The pacer was expected to take the ODI series by storm given his outstanding performances in the Test series. However, because the 'spin-twins' have taken over the wicket-taking duties, Bhuvi has had to take the backseat in a way. Irrespective of all that, the right-arm pacer is set to retain his place in the side.

Jasprit Bumrah

The youngster has been one of the best fast bowlers in the limited-over circuit recently. Though like his fellow pacer, he hasn't been among the wickets in this very series, Bumrah will hold on to his place because of his ability to change the match on its head in a matter of few deliveries.