Eman 
ZeeaK 
The South Africa A tour of India concludes today with the 3rd and final unofficial ODI at the Niranjan Shah Stadium in Rajkot. With India A having secured the series with dominant victories in the first two matches, the hosts now hunt for a comprehensive 3-0 clean sweep against a South Africa A side playing for pride.
The match started at 9:30 AM Local Time (IST) / 4:00 AM GMT.
The Context: India A’s Dominance
India A has controlled the series through a combination of consistent batting and disruptive bowling:
- 1st ODI: India A won by 4 wickets, anchored by Ruturaj Gaikwad’s brilliant century (117), successfully chasing 286 runs.
- 2nd ODI: India A won by 9 wickets, after bowling South Africa A out for just 132 runs (thanks to Nishant Sindhu’s 4/16), which Gaikwad again finished with an unbeaten 68.
South Africa A, despite strong recovery efforts in the first match and some excellent opening partnerships in the third, has struggled with major middle-order collapses, making today’s contest crucial for finishing the tour on a positive note.
Venue and Pitch Report
The Niranjan Shah Stadium is renowned as a batter-friendly venue, consistently producing high-scoring matches (the average first innings score often sits near 290 runs).
- Previous Matches: The first two ODIs here were balanced, with pacers finding early assistance. However, the surface settles quickly, allowing batsmen to thrive.
- Toss Update: India A won the toss and elected to bowl first. This decision puts pressure on the South African top order to capitalise on the early morning conditions.
Team News and Key Players
Both sides are utilizing this series as a platform for emerging talent. India A has made some changes to their XI, keeping the squad fresh for the series clincher.
- India A: The focus will remain on Ruturaj Gaikwad (leading the series run charts with 185 runs from two games) and the attacking wicketkeeper-batsman Ishan Kishan. The spin of Manav Suthar and pace of Harshit Rana will be key to restricting the visitors.
- South Africa A: Openers Lhuan-dre Pretorius and Rivaldo Moonsamy must convert their starts into a monumental partnership to put up a challenging total. Captain Marques Ackerman and the middle-order batters are under pressure to provide stability.
India A Playing XI:
Ruturaj Gaikwad, Abhishek Sharma, Tilak Varma (c), Ayush Badoni, Ishan Kishan (w), Riyan Parag, Nishant Sindhu, Harshit Rana, Prasidh Krishna, Manav Suthar, Khaleel Ahmed.
South Africa A Playing XI:
Lhuan-dre Pretorius, Rivaldo Moonsamy, Marques Ackerman (c), Sinethemba Qeshile (w), Rubin Hermann, Dian Forrester, Delano Potgieter, Lutho Sipamla, Nqabayomzi Peter, Bjorn Fortuin,
Tshepo Moreki.
The dead rubber status may allow for more aggressive batting from both sides, promising a high-energy finale in Rajkot.
IMAGE CREDITS : NDTV SPORTS
About the Author
