India win toss, bat in third SA Test

Nagpur - India's captain Virat Kohli won the toss and elected to bat in the third Test against South Africa at the VCA ground in Nagpur on Wednesday.

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The hosts brought in Amit Mishra to partner Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja in a three-man spin attack on a dry pitch which already has wide cracks on the surface.

India, leading 1-0 in the four-Test series, also bolstered their batting by including Rohit Sharma. Mishra and Sharma replaced all-rounder Stuart Binny and fast bowler Varun Aaron.

South Africa also strengthened their spin attack, including off-break bowler Simon Harmer in place of seamer Kyle Abbott.

The top-ranked tourists need a win to take the series into the decider in New Delhi from December 3.

Teams:

India - Virat Kohli (captain), Shikhar Dhawan, Murali Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Wriddhiman Saha, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Amit Mishra, Ishant Sharma.

South Africa - Hashim Amla (captain), Dean Elgar, Stiaan van Zyl, Faf du Plessis, AB de Villiers, JP Duminy, Dane Vilas, Simon Harmer, Kagiso Rabada, Morne Morkel, Imran Tahir.

Umpires: Ian Gould (ENG) and Bruce Oxenford (AUS)

TV umpire: Anil Chaudhary (IND)

Match referee: Jeff Crowe (NZL)