Can India conquer the last Citadel?

Kohli returns as India resume hunt for history in third Test today

NT Correspondent

With Dean Elgar-led South Africa winning the second Test at Johannesburg, the three-match series against India is nicely poised and there is everything to play for in the decider set to be played in Cape Town, beginning today.

If India win here, it will truly be the crowning glory and complete circle of India winning a Test series in every Test-playing country. South Africa is the last hurdle and once that’s done then the sky is the limit for Indian cricket.

India skipper Virat Kohli who had missed the second Test due to back spasm is all set to make a return for the decider and this will be his 99th match in the longest format. Skipper Kohli will look to hit form and end his two-year century drought in a crucial game.

“I am absolutely fit,” Kohli said at the pre-match press conference, but ruled out the participation of pacer Mohammed Siraj. “Siraj is obviously recovering from the (hamstring) niggle he had in the last game and at present, I don’t think he is match-ready to take the field in the third Test,” Kohli said.

However, the skipper did not say whether Ishant Sharma will get the nod ahead of Umesh Yadav.

Hanuma Vihari was given a chance in the place of Kohli in the second game, and the right-handed batter managed to score a crucial 40 in the second innings, but it is fair to say that with Rahane and Pujara hitting form, Vihari would be the one to get dropped as Kohli comes back into the side.

Mayank Agarwal and KL Rahul have given good starts this series, and the management would just hope that the duo is able to capitalise on their starts and go big.

It would be interesting to see whether Rishabh Pant takes learnings from a dreadful shot played in the second Test and whether he is willing to apply himself at the crease. We need to wait and see.

South Africa are unlikely to make any changes to the XI that won at the Wanderers. RSA’s opening pair, especially Aiden Markram, is due some runs while the middle order needs to build consistency ahead of two more Test series this season. Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi have hit their strides and India would be required to see out the spells of these two to have any chance of winning.

Duanne Olivier also troubled the visitors, so it is fair to say that India has their task cut out if they want to register their first Test series win on Proteas soil.