India to play for pride in dead rubber against South Africa

India need to set the team composition right as they look to restore pride and prevent South Africa from recording a clean sweep when the two teams clash in the third and final Twenty20 International, here tomorrow.
The series was done and dusted in Cuttack after India's humiliating six-wicket defeat as South Africa sent the hosts packing for their second lowest total of 92 in a match which was interrupted twice due to unruly crowd behaviour.
India had suffered a similar result in Bangladesh in June when they lost two ODIs on the trot before conceding the series 1-2 in their first-ever series defeat to the hosts.

The Eden T20 may have been rendered inconsequential but it would be of great importance for India skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni, who would look to get into a winning momentum before the five-match ODI series against the visitors.
For this to happen, Dhoni may have to let go his preferred picks in Ambati Rayudu and Axar Patel in favour of Ajinkya Rahane and Amit Mishra.
Dhoni's selection of Rayudu ahead of Rahane, considered one of the best players of the format, has come under severe criticism.

There is a strong possibility that the elegant right-hander will be included to lend a stability to the side especially after their Cuttack collapse.

The Eden strip is expected to be a spinner's paradise, and India must capitalise by curbing the South Africans strokeplay on a surface which may not be conducive to batting.
In such a scenario, Mishra seems to be a better bet but it remains to be seen whether Dhoni, who considers the wrist leg-spinner to be slower in the air, picks him ahead of Patel or Harbhajan Singh.
The biggest positive for India has been Ravichandran Ashwin who has troubled the South Africans, and bowled out the danger man, AB de Villiers, on both the occasions this series. Dhoni will once again look up to his Chennai Super Kings teammate Ashwin who will pose a threat to the spin-wary Proteas.

Despite being the most successful Indian skipper, with a World Twenty20 title, 50-overs World Cup and also Champions Trophy triumph to his credit, a certain section believes that days are numbered for the 34-year-old.