Former India opener Gautam Gambhir wants Team India to test their bench strength in the third and final ODI against South Africa in Cape Town on Sunday (January 23).

Having lost the first two games, the visitors have already conceded a 2-0 lead to the Proteas in the three-ODI series.

According to Gambhir, India should give an opportunity to the likes of Jayant Yadav, Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna in the dead-rubber.

“Jasprit Bumrah, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Ravi Ashwin should be rested for the next match, and changes in the batting order aren’t needed. Jayant Yadav should be given a chance along with seamers like Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna. India need to develop their second-string team and gives chances to bowlers who can bowl above 140 kmph in South Africa,” Gambhir said on Star Sports.

The tourists received a seven-wicket thrashing in the second ODI despite putting 287 runs on the board.

Gambhir opined that the time has come for the Indian team to overhaul the bowling attack.

“India have three-four options in their arsenal… Navdeep Saini, Avesh Khan, Prasidh Krishna and Mohammed Siraj. India should definitely give these players an opportunity. The third and final game can be termed as a dead rubber and it’s a good chance for the team management to test its second string," he added.

Ex-India batting coach Sanjay Bangar also endorsed Gambhir’s views, saying that Team India are going through a ‘rebuilding phase’ and should not lose heart by the series defeat.

“It’s a rebuilding phase for the team. India should not get bogged down by the series defeat and think about the upcoming ones. Many people had written off Australia too before the T20 World Cup," Bangar said.