With the series deadlocked at 1-1, the third and final Test of the three-match bilateral series will take place in Cape Town. South Africa’s Citadel, Supersport Park, was brought down by India in the first Test, as they lost by 113 runs to India. In the second Test in Johannesburg the hosts clawed their way back, winning the match by seven wickets and setting up a decider at Newlands, Cape Town.
As the team chased 240 to win, Dean Elgar led the way with an unbeaten 96, with contributions from everyone. The South Africans may have recovered from the blow they sustained in the first Test, but former India international Harbhajan Singh believes India will win the final game. While the hosts look to continue their winning momentum, the Indian camp sets sight on its maiden Test series win in the Rainbow nation.
Despite bidding international cricket farewell last month, Harbhajan highlighted the depth of the current Indian bowling attack and backed the pacers to deliver in Cape Town.
“When we toured or any other team toured we never had the luxury of four fast bowlers to bowl at 145 on those pitches and now Team India is full of fast bowlers. They have quality fast bowlers Shami, Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj and Shardul Thakur. They are top class bowlers.
Harbhajan Singh told ANI that If there were those kinds of bowlers available earlier for India, then they would have achieved this feat much earlier than they have today… It is a great opportunity for India to win the series in South Africa and I hope they do so. In the last game, South Africa played very well and won. I think overall Team India in Cape Town will be at the top of their game and will win the series there. That is what I feel.
Harbhajan also called out South Africa’s rough transition, saying the hosts’ batting unit will be on the back foot. In his heyday, Harbhajan bowled against the likes of Hashim Amla, Jacques Kallis, AB de Villiers, and Mark Boucher.
He further added,”South Africa those days were a very different team and very strong team and honestly with this South African team with all due respect I don’t think they have that they don’t have it in them to beat India. The Indian team is way too strong for South Africa and the day they were leaving for South Africa I said this is India’s best chance to beat South Africa in their backyard because the quality of batting in the South African team is not there.”
The BCCI shared a video of the team’s arrival in Cape Town on Saturday. Virat Kohli, India’s regular skipper, could be back for the third Test, boosting their chances of writing history on the South African soil. As Kohli was absent for the second Test, India was led by Rahul.
