There was an international debut for 30-year-old Rajat Patidar in the ODI series decider at Boland Park, as an unchanged South Africa chose to field against India.
Patidar was one of two changes for India, with him replacing Ruturaj Gaikwad, who picked up a finger injury in the second ODI. Kuldeep Yadav was rested, and in came Washington Sundar.
South Africa captain Aiden Markram said he hoped to continue the winning way after levelling the series in Port Elizabeth. He also wanted to follow the same template of bowling first to replicate success from the second ODI, even if conditions were hot for fielding on Thursday.
India captain KL Rahul said that he did not mind batting first, and expected the pitch to stay the same across 100 overs. He also said he was keen to bat on this surface after finding the pitch “better” than the first two games.
This series, bowlers have dominated proceedings in the first innings but in the last three ODIs in Paarl, the average first innings score in Paarl been 291. The pitch report suggested a dry surface offering slow batting conditions, but getting better under the lights.
South Africa have not lost an ODI at Paarl in ten years. India have a 7-2 record in ODI series deciders since 2019.
South Africa: Tony de Zorzi, Reeza Hendricks, Rassie van der Dussen, Aiden Markram, Heinrich Klaasen, David Miller, Wiaan Mulder, Keshav Maharaj, Nandre Burger, Lizaad Williams, Beuran Hendricks.
India: B Sai Sudharsan, Sanju Samson, Rajat Patidar, Tilak Verma, KL Rahul, Rinku Singh, Axar Patel, Washington Sundar, Arshdeep Singh, Avesh Khan, Mukesh Kumar.
