Kohli returns as India look to hit back against South Africa

CAPE TOWN - India will be looking to Virat Kohli to provide inspiration and runs as they seek to bounce back in the decisive

third Test against South Africa starting at Newlands on Tuesday.

  Kohli is expected to return as captain and key batsman after missing
India's defeat in the second Test in Johannesburg because of a back spasm.

  Kohli's fierce competitiveness was missing in the closing stages at the
Wanderers last Thursday as South Africa chased down a challenging target of
240 to level the series at 1-1.

  Indian coach Rahul Dravid pointed out that a damp outfield affected the
ball and made the Indian bowlers less effective but there seemed an air of
resignation as the South Africans got closer to their seven-wicket win.

  India were also hampered by the failure of any of their batters to emulate
first Test centurion KL Rahul by converting good starts into big scores.

  Kohli, who has made 27 Test centuries, is capable of taking advantage of a
Newlands pitch likely to be more friendly to batters than those on which the
first two matches were played.

  But Kohli will have to rise to the challenge of overcoming a two-year run
of relatively poor form.

  Although Kohli's career Test batting average is still above 50, it drops to
below 30 since he scored 317 runs for twice out in a home series against
South Africa in October 2019. He made 136 against Bangladesh in Kolkata a
month later but has not made another century in 14 subsequent Test matches.

  - Pujara and Rahane still under pressure -

  India will also be looking to two other experienced players, Cheteshwar
Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane, to bat for long periods. Both batsmen have been
under pressure from critics in recent months but they shared an impressive
century partnership in Johannesburg before being dismissed for 53 and 58
respectively.

  India are likely to make one forced change unless aggressive fast bowler
Mohammed Siraj makes a remarkable recovery from a hamstring injury. One of
the experienced duo of Ishant Sharma and Umesh Yadav is likely to step in.

  South African captain Dean Elgar, who made a match-winning 96 not out in
the final innings in Johannesburg, made a realistic assessment of his team's
prospects by describing the win as "a step in the right direction", while
warning that "not everything is going to go our way".

  The reality is that South Africa have a fragile batting order, short on
experience and sheer quality.

  But what Elgar has brought to the team since being appointed full-time
captain last year is an insistence that his players be willing to put up a
fight.

  Elgar's public acknowledgement that he had a "tough conversation" with
Kagiso Rabada, the leader of the fast bowling attack, was a strong signal
that he expected his players to give of their best all the time.

  South Africa gambled by picking four seam bowlers and only six recognised
batsmen at the Wanderers.

  Left-arm spinner Keshav Maharaj, who only bowled two overs in the match, is
likely to play a much bigger role at Newlands, so the discussion for South
Africa is likely to be whether to keep a four-pronged pace attack or to
attempt to bolster the batting, possibly by recalling all-rounder Wiaan
Mulder.

  Likely teams:

  South Africa: Dean Elgar (captain), Aiden Markram, Keegan Petersen, Rassie
van der Dussen, Temba Bavuma, Kyle Verreynne (wkt), Marco Jansen, Keshav
Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Duanne Olivier or Wiaan Mulder, Lungi Ngidi

  India: Virat Kohli (captain), KL Rahul, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara,
Ajinkya Rahane, Rishabh Pant (wkt), Ravichandran Ashwin, Shardul Thakur,
Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj or Ishant Sharma or Umesh
Yadav

  Umpires: Marais Erasmus, Adrian Holdstock (both RSA)

  TV umpire: Allahuddien Paleker (RSA)

  Match referee: Andy Pycroft (ZIM). BSS/AFP