3rd ODI: India and South Africa have plenty to play for

RAJKOT: India's fightback against South Africa in the Indore ODI has suddenly brought this five-match series alive and the third match in Rajkot on Sunday has now assumed massive significance.
The shift happened late in the second half of the second ODI when Indian bowling and fielding strangulated the opponents who till then looked like destroying India's record and reputation at home.After the T20s and the first ODI, South Africa were on a high. But with India managing to bring them down in Indore, the race is now on to gain the upper hand in the series.
Talking about the Indian team on eve of the match, former Indian keeper and chairman of selectors Kiran More made a very good observation. He said: "Those three catches by Virat (Kohli) and one by (Suresh) Raina at slip not only had a huge impact on the match, but will also make an impact on the final outcome of the series and the performance of these two players. They both have missed out in this series so far, but I am pretty sure they will go into the Rajkot match with a lot more confidence and self-belief, which are important when you are swimming against the tide."
The tempo is definitely with the home team now and they would like to carry it forward, but at the same time they would also want to see Kohli and Raina get amongst the runs. Because barring Kohli and Raina, the rest of the line-up looks pretty settled. Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma and Ajinkya Rahane have shown good solidity at the top, Dhoni seems to have regained his Midas touch and the Indian bowling, especially in the last match, did a great job in defending a below par score.
The track looks like an absolute sleeping beauty with plenty of runs. Given the history of the venue and the nature of the track, it is likely that Amit Mishra might get the nod ahead of a seamer. Though R Ashwin, who sustained a strain on the left side while fielding off his own bowling in the first ODI in Kanpur and missed the second match, rolled his arm briefly on a side wicket, he didn't bowl in the nets and may sit out again. That gives Harbhajan Singh another opportunity to show that he still deserves to be part of the team. The skipper had some good batting practice with both Mishra and Harbhajan bowling to him in the nets, if that is any indication of things to come.
For the South Africans, barring that brief period in the middle of their innings in Indore when they lost three quick wickets to give away the advantage and the match, there isn't much to worry about. However, a close defeat in a game in which they allowed the Indian spinners to dominate will rankle them. But they have been otherwise pretty consistent.
The newcomer Kagiso Rabada has been really impressive and has outbowled his more illustrious teammates - Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel. Imran Tahir has been as effective as ever. Even JP Duminy and Farhaan Behardien are keeping things under control. So the skipper, AB de Villiers, has only one thing to worry about. He has already stressed that his batsmen need to bat more responsibly and that's perhaps why their net session was a lot more serious and intense than the Indians.