India win toss despite Proteas sending Bavuma as proxy captain

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RANCHI, India, Oct 19, 2019 (BSS/AFP) – India’s Virat Kohli elected to bat
for the third straight time after South Africa’s attempt to beat their bad
luck at the toss with Temba Bavuma in the final Test Saturday.

Proteas captain Faf du Plessis brought his deputy Bavuma to call the toss
in an effort to change his side’s fortunes but South Africa went on to lose
its 10th successive coin flip in Asian Tests.

The hosts, who have already taken an unassailable 2-0 lead in the three-
match series, made just one change to their starting line-up from the
previous win on Sunday.

Left-arm spinner Shahbaz Nadeem has been handed his international debut
after being added to the squad late Friday in place of injured Kuldeep Yadav.

Nadeem come in to the side in place of paceman Ishant Sharma.

“Like a typical Ranchi wicket. It’s a no-brainer to bat first on this
one,” said captain Kohli.

“I don’t think it’s gonna be slow but it will keep lower than Pune maybe.
Should spin at a decent pace. As long as it turns with pace on the ball, we
don’t mind the bounce.”

“It isn’t meant to be,” Du Plessis said of his long losing streak.

“Important toss as this looks the driest surface of the series. It’s about
the first innings really and we need to put runs on the board when we bat.”

The Proteas made five changes to their starting line-up, with Zubayr
Hamza, Heinrich Klaasen, George Linde, Lungi Ngidi and Dane Piedt added.

Teams

India: Virat Kohli (capt), Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Mayank Agarwal,
Cheteshwar Pujara, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Wriddhiman Saha
(wk), Umesh Yadav, Shahbaz Nadeem, Mohammed Shami

South Africa: Faf du Plessis (capt), Dean Elgar, Quinton de Kock, Zubayr
Hamza, Temba Bavuma, Heinrich Klaasen (wk), George Linde, Dane Piedt, Kagiso
Rabada, Anrich Nortje, Lungi Ngidi

Umpires: Richard Illingworth (ENG), Nigel Llong (ENG)

TV Umpire: Chris Gaffaney (NZL)

Match referee: Richie Richardson (WIS)