Team India have a good opportunity to win their first-ever Test series in South Africa. They won the first Test match in Centurion, but the hosts fought back in the second Test and leveled the series 1-1 with a 7-wicket win.
Now, both teams will head into the series-decider in Cape Town, which is scheduled to kick off on January 11. India captain Virat Kohli, who missed out on the second Test match due to an upper back spasm, is expected to return in the next match.
Who has a better chance of sealing the series with a win? Former South Africa captain Shaun Pollock and veteran India wicketkeeper-batter Dinesh Karthik shared their views ahead of the final Test match.
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Although both Pollock and Karthik believe the last Test is going to be a thriller, the latter has picked India as the front-runner to win the match due to their batting unit. "I still believe India are frontrunners (for the Cape Town Test)," he said.
"The good thing is both teams look really good but I will put my hand up and say India are the frontrunners because their batting looks more solid and as per their bowling, Siraj not being fit was a problem," Karthik added on Cricbuzz.
We saw Mohammed Siraj struggling with his fitness in the second Test match and Karthik feels it is going to be a concern for the team going into the decider. India will have to play one of the senior pacers, Ishant Sharma and Umesh Yadav, if Siraj fails to regain full fitness.
"Hopefully he is fit but if he's not then they Ishant and Umesh to choose from. I still they will still go in with six batters and five bowlers theory to try and create more opportunities with the ball. If India's batting fires, which still hasn't so far, they have the potential to score 400," he further said.
"South Africa appear to be a little on the batting front. The moment Temba Bavuma gets out, you feel there is a little gap in that batting," he added.
Pollock also feels the tourists have an edge over South Africa due to the experience in their team. He said India won't be too worried about the form of a few individuals in their side.
"Conditions will dictate terms. We've seen different kinds of pitches in Cape Town... I do think experience-wise India do hold the cards. A lot of their players have been here and performed well. They won't be too worried about the form of a few of their individuals and South Africa would be wary about the mindset of India.
"They would be keen to turn this around after having felt disappointed here. So, if you ask out of the two Tests that we've seen, which team is better? Then I think India are slightly ahead with the performances that they've put in," he said.
Even though India has an experienced side, Pollock believes that won't stop South Africa from putting up a fight as they are 'fighters' and have a 'strong character'.
"I would never like to underestimate South Africa. They are tough characters and they are fighters so we are in for a fascinating contest," he added.
(With Cricbuzz Inputs)
