Driving Naari Programme launched in Chandigarh
Cape Town, February 7
India will have their sights set on an unprecedented 3-0 lead when they take on South Africa, who have fallen apart due to injury blows, in the third ODI of the six-match series here tomorrow. The visitors won the first two matches of the series in Durban and Centurion by six and nine wickets, respectively, dismantling the home side with consummate ease.
India have managed to win two ODIs in a bilateral series in South Africa twice previously, but ended up losing the series on both occasions. But given the hosts’ current travails, not winning a series this time would be a disaster for the Men in Blue. The Proteas are beset with injury problems. AB de Villiers was ruled out before the first ODI, Faf du Plessis before the second (both suffered finger injuries). And the list has got longer with Quinton de Kock (left wrist injury) ruled out before the third ODI.
Meanwhile, the Indian team has hit a purple patch. Virat Kohli, who has named 35 different playing elevens in 35 Tests, could very well field the same team for this third successive ODI. Consistency will give them a boost in what is surely a match of historic significance, albeit a small one, as India have never before won three matches in an ODI bilateral series on South African soil.
