Batting friendly track for India as Gambhir returns

India will have a batting friendly wicket when they take on South Africa in the series-deciding third Test at the Newlands here on Sunday.

With the series levelled at 1-1, the Indians are also on the verge of recording their first-ever series triumph on South African soil.

After suffering a humiliating defeat in the first Test in Centurion, the world No.1 Test side did well to win the second Test in Durban.

India have a poor record here and have managed just a draw in 1993. On the other two occasion, India lost by 282 runs in 1997 and by five wickets in 2007.

But the morale-boosting triumph in Durban have changed the body-language of the Indians and it means that history won’t matter for Mahendra Singh Dhoni’s boys anymore.

While the return of Zaheer Khan has boosted the bowling, batting remains a concern as India collapsed in both the innings in Durban.

It was only good bowling that dismissed the South Africans for 131 in the first innings, India could well have been in trouble due to their famed batting line-up’s below-par show.

Murali Vijay, who came in the side to replace an injured Gautam Gambhir, will be making way for the regular opener, who had recovered completely from the hand injury he sustained during a practice session before the second Test.

The focus will also be on Cheteshwar Pujara, who came in for an out of form Suresh Raina, but with scores of 19 and 10, couldn’t quite make an impression.

South Africans can take heart from the fact that Newlands is a happy hunting ground for them. The Proteas have won 14 out of 21 Tests here and lost just three (against Australia).

Graeme Smith’s men, who pulled off a solid batting performance in the opening Test, couldn’t quite click in Durban.

Teams (from):

India: Mahendra Singh Dhoni (Capt.), Gautam Gambhir, Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, VVS Laxman, Suresh Raina, Harbhajan Singh, Zaheer Khan, Ishant Sharma, S Sreesanth, Murali Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara, Wriddhiman Saha, Umesh Yadav, Jaidev Unadkat, Pragyan Ojha.

South Africa: Graeme Smith (Capt.), Alviro Petersen, Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis, AB de Villiers, Ashwell Prince, Mark Boucher, Dale Steyn, Paul Harris, Morne Morkel, Lonwabo Tsotsobe, Ryan McLaren, JP Duminy, Wayne Parnell.