The South African team has had a rough time in India. Nothing has gone their way including the toss. The Proteas skipper Faf du Plessis had lost nine consecutive tosses in Asia and tried something new for the third and final Test in Ranchi. Faf du Plessis had his deputy Temba Bavuma with him to call the shots at the toss.
Read More: BCCI Has Been Very Hospitable With Conditions For Whole Series – Herschelle Gibbs
However, nothing change for the visitors as Indian captain Virat Kohli once again had the rub of the green on his side as he won the toss and decided to bat first. Kohli called it a no-brainer to bat first at Ranchi.
South Africa has got off to a good start.
Meanwhile, South Africa has made as many as five changes to their playing XI. On the other hand, India has brought in debutant Shahbaz Nadeem in place of pacer Ishant Sharma. In fact, Nadeem was added to the Indian squad last evening after Kuldeep Yadav had complained of shoulder pain.
Virat Kohli called it a no-brainer to bat first at the Toss #TeamIndia #INDvSA @Paytm ???? pic.twitter.com/3V4fKvcVWr
— BCCI (@BCCI) October 19, 2019
Virat Kohli said at the toss, “We’ll bat first. It looks like a good wicket. In fact, it will be hard upfront and then got slower. Like the typical Ranchi wicket. It’s a no-brainer to bat first on this one. 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. Just one change – Ishant has been given a break. Shahbaz Nadeem makes his debut.
India hasn’t got off to a good start as they have lost two early wickets. South Africa’s pack leader Kagiso Rabada has sent back Mayank Agarwal and Cheteshwar Pujara.
Read More: India Vs South Africa 2019/20: Third Test (Day One) – Virat Kohli Again Fails To Achieve Success In Batting Review
The hosts’ have already bagged the series 2-0 but the final Test match is not a dead rubber as 40 points are on offer for both sides in the ongoing ICC Test Championship.
Here is how Twitter reacted to toss:
Kohli to duplesi – kya ukhad liya proxy captain ko lakar ?
— Prashant (@imprashant775) October 19, 2019
By the way Temba called tail and the referee said "tails it is" so how the hell have South Africa lost the toss!
How the earth is this possible, anyone else who notice this???— Maaz Ahmed (@maaz_ad) October 19, 2019
Proxy Captain ??
— Ishan Joshi (@ishanjoshii) October 19, 2019
This time also SAF lost the Toss #INDvsSA
— marimuthu (@marimuthu4u) October 19, 2019
https://twitter.com/PiyushMCFC/status/1185404080174198784?s=20
Faf du Plessis toss record in away Tests
First seven Tests: seven tosses won (Won 4; Lost 1; Draw 2)
Last seven* Tests: seven tosses lost (Won 0; Lost 6)#INDvSA— Deepu Narayanan (@deeputalks) October 19, 2019
Say a worst relationship than Faf du Plessis & tosses on Asia#INDvsSA
— Poornama? (@iam_poor9) October 19, 2019
Graeme Smith's view on Temba Bavuma accompanying Faf du Plessis to make the call at the toss this morning: "I thought it was pathetic … what kind of message are you sending?" Biff doesn't hold back, and that's why he has become one of the best commentators on @SuperSportTV
— Lloyd Burnard (@LloydBurnard) October 19, 2019
Faf du Plessis may have lost the toss but he kinda wins by actually getting Temba Bavuma as proxy captain to'change' his luck? https://t.co/FaJzh8lvt9
— Zenia D'cunha (@ZENIADCUNHA) October 19, 2019
Faf du Plessis tried some black magic but still lost the toss.
India batting first again… pic.twitter.com/3Pm7ALwXe4
— P₹akash $inha ?? (@Predicto_Praky) October 19, 2019
When the maths teacher says probability of winning a toss is 1/2
Faf du Plessis – pic.twitter.com/xI8gXZPmU7
— The Funny Cricketer (@dfunnycricketer) October 19, 2019
किस्मत #FafduPlessis जैसी हो गई,
सिक्का अपनें पाले मे गिरता ही नहीं हैं!!#INDvSA #TeamIndia— MD J a a T (@who_mahendra) October 19, 2019
Faf du Plessis is like Viru of Sholay who doesn't knew that the coin is identical in both the sides, and hence always lose the toss…?
Ranchi's wicket is a let down, considering the strength of this elite Indian bowling line-up.#INDvSA #INDvsSA pic.twitter.com/XC9gOV4Jhw— Roshan Agrawal (@KaunRoshan) October 19, 2019