CAPE TOWN : South Africa captain Dean Elgar won the toss and chose to bat first in the second and final test against India amid glorious sunshine at Newlands on Wednesday as the hosts seek a series sweep against the top ranked side in the world.
South Arica have made three changes to the team that won the first test by an innings and 32 runs on a lively track in Pretoria.
Middle order batter Tristan Stubbs makes his start in the place of injured regular captain Temba Bavuma.
Spinner Keshav Maharaj gets his 50th cap in the place of injured Gerald Coetzee and seamer Lungi Ngidi comes into the team for Keegan Petersen as the hosts opt for an extra bowler.
“It looks an interesting wicket, a few snakes in it, hopefully it comes to the fore when we bowl,” Elgar said. “It is a big hurdle for us and a big test, this is our biggest game for the season. We have to start well.”
India captain Rohit Sharma admitted he would have batted first had he won the toss as the hosts made two changes.
Left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja has returned from back spasms and replaces Ravichandran Ashwin, while seamer Mukesh Kumar comes in to play his second test for Shardul Thakur.
“There will be enough in the pitch for the seamers, so hopefully we can cash in on it,” Rohit said. “It is important for us to forget what has happened in the past, it is about the present.”
The match is a final in his 12-year test career for Elgar, who announced his retirement ahead of the series.
South Africa: Dean Elgar (capt.), Aiden Markram, Tony de Zorzi, Tristan Stubbs, David Bedingham, Kyle Verreynne, Marco Jansen, Keshav Maharaj, Kagiso Rabada, Nandre Burger, Lungi Ngidi
India: Rohit Sharma (capt.), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna, Mukesh Kumar.