MS Dhoni's men fought back in the second ODI to beat South Africa by 22 runs. The five-match series is level at 1-1 with the 3rd game to be played at Saurashtra Cricket Association Stadium in Rajkot. Catch all the live updates and scores: (Live Scorecard | News | Photos | Videos)
13:05 hrs IST: Here are the playing XIs of both teams. There are reports coming that David Miller could open the batting with Quinton de Kock. One must remember that Miller is struggling for form and this is an interesting move by South Africa.
India (Playing XI): Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane, Virat Kohli, MS Dhoni(wk and c), Suresh Raina, Axar Patel, Harbhajan Singh, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Amit Mishra, Mohit Sharma
South Africa (Playing XI): Hashim Amla, Quinton de Kock(wk), Faf du Plessis, AB de Villiers(c), Jean-Paul Duminy, David Miller, Farhaan Behardien, Dale Steyn, Kagiso Rabada, Imran Tahir, Morne Morkel
13:00 hrs IST: A warm welcome to the third match between India and South Africa from Rajkot. The latest news is that the Proteas have won the toss and have chosen to bat first. No changes in their squad but for India, Amit Mishra replaces Umesh Yadav. So, on this deck, spin will be the key.
Having managed to level the series, a determined India will be eager to produce an improved performance in the third ODI against South Africa today. However, one major worrying factor for the organisers is the threat of disruption issued by Hardik Patel's Patidar Anamat Andolan Samiti (PAAS) who have stated their plan to use the game as a platform for their ongoing agitation for reservation.
The hosts were propped up by a fighting unbeaten 92 by skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni and a half-century from Ajinkya Rahane during the second ODI while the rest of the batting line-up fluffed their lines. The bowlers then produced a superlative performance to successfully defend the modest total of 247/9 and carve out a 22-run victory.
The Proteas had earlier taken the opening ODI of the five-match series by five runs in Kanpur. The Indian victory in Indore came after three consecutive defeats to the visitors as they had lost both the matches in the Twenty20 International (T20I) series as well.
The Indian top order has been inconsistent so far, specially Shikhar Dhawan, Virat Kohli and Suresh Raina. The last time Kohli got a half-century was during India's opening match of the 2015 World Cup on February 15. Rahane has been the most consistent Indian batsman so far in this series. Dhoni's return to form will be another morale booster for the Indians.
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