Preview: 3rd ODI: India look to consolidate lead against South Africa

Cape Town, February 6: India will have their eyes on an unprecedented 3-0 lead when they take on a South Africa in the third ODI of the six-match series, here on Wednesday (February 7).

The visitors won the first two matches of the series in Durban and Centurion by six and nine wickets respectively.

Twice previously, India have managed to win two ODIs in a bilateral series in South Africa - in 1992-93 and in 2010-11.

In the latter instance, the visitors shot into a 2-1 lead, only to lose the five-match series 3-2 in the end. They had also lost 5-2 in the other instance.

But the Proteas are beset with injury problems. AB de Villiers was ruled out before the first ODI, Faf du Plessis before the second (both suffered finger injuries).

And the list has only grown with Quinton de Kock (left wrist injury) ruled out before the third ODI.

Klaasen likely to debut

Cricket South Africa didn't name a replacement for him, and Heinrich Klaasen, who finished as the third highest run-getter in the domestic one-day tournament here, is expected to make his ODI debut.

South Africa will be hoping for a better and fast-paced start from the in-form batsman, if he is asked to open along with Hashim Amla.

Unchanged Indian XI?

Meanwhile, the Indian team is relishing a fine role reversal from the Test series. While South Africa shot into a 2-0 lead, the visitors had to chop and change repeatedly to find a plausible combination throughout the prior series.

In the present, there is once again no need to change things around. Virat Kohli, who has named 35 different playing elevens in 35 Tests, could very well field the same team for this third successive ODI.

Consistency will give them a boost in what is surely a match of some significance, as India have never before won three matches in an ODI bilateral series on the South African soil.

If it so comes about, this will also be India's third- ever win at Newlands, for India have only played four ODIs at this ground, winning two and losing two, since 1992.

Additionally, India had climbed to the top spot in ICC ODI rankings after their win in Centurion and another win in Cape Town will help them open up a gap in the standings.

A win for South Africa will see India move back to no 2.

The Indian team management has repeatedly said that rankings don't warrant much attention, but these are brownie points that Kohli and Co. wouldn't want to miss out on.

Teams (from): India: Virat Kohli (capt), Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane, Shreyas Iyer, Manish Pandey, Dinesh Karthik, Kedar Jadhav, MS Dhoni (wk), Hardik Pandya, Yuzvendra Chahal, Kuldeep Yadav, Axar Patel, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Shardul Thakur.

South Africa: Aiden Markram, Hashim Amla, JP Duminy, Imran Tahir, David Miller, Morne Morkel, Chris Morris, Lungisani Ngidi, Andile Phehlukwayo, Kagiso Rabada, Tabraiz Shamsi, Khayelihle Zondo, Farhaan Behardien, Heinrich Klaasen (wk).

Match starts at: 4.30 pm IST

Live on: Sony TEN

Live streaming on: Sony LIV