Newlands Test Match: Top Three Bets & Key Players

South Africa and India head into the third and final Test match in Newlands with the series level at 1-1. Ongama Gcwabe and Bet Central bring you all you need to know ahead of the Test match.

The Gandhi-Mandela Trophy is on the line as South Africa aim to prevent India from winning their very first Test series in South Africa. India, the number one Test team in the world, have become world-beaters over the past three years and have been one of the most successful touring sides in the world. In 2020, they went to Australia, the hardest country to tour, and made history by winning the series, registering their very first Test series victory down under.  

Last year, the Indian team toured England and dominated in foreign conditions by winning two Tests and led the series 2-1 before the fifth and final Test was postponed due to Covid-19 penetrating the bio bubble. The Indians carried their momentum through to South Africa by winning the first Test in Centurion, beating South Africa for the first time in Centurion and led the series 1-0 going into the second Test at the Wanderers.  

The South Africans levelled the series one-all at the Wanderers, thanks to a gritty knock from Captain Dean Elgar and some notable contributions from vice-captain Temba Bavuma with the bat.

Virat Kohli to be India’s Top 1st Innings Batsman

A back spasm to India Test skipper on the morning of the second Test meant that he had to sit out and gave way for Hanuma Vihari in the Test XI while KL Rahul took over the captaincy role in Wanderers. With the series on the line, the Indians seemed to miss their confident and vocal captain on the field as the series started heating up. Jasprit Bumrah and Marco Jansen’s exchange in the first innings was the first sign of the series heating up, that altercation was followed by Rassie van der Dussen’s and Rishabh Pant’s altercation during the second innings.  

If there is anything this India Test side has been able to do well, that is to stick together and play fearless cricket in foreign conditions. This is where Virat Kohli comes in. He is fearless, positive and never holds back from a fight. He wears his heart on his sleeve and this trait seemed to have filtered through to each and every individual in the India side. That is why I think Virat Kohli will play a huge role in this decider of a Test match starting on Tuesday.  Everything about the Test screams Virat Kohli. He is under pressure for runs, there are question marks hanging over his head and people seem to be doubting his selection in the side after a lengthy period without a Test century, all of which have been reasons for Kohli to come out guns blazing in the past. He did it in Australia in 2014, he did it in South Africa in 2017/18 and I think he will produce the same performances come 11^th January when the 3^rd Test starts in Cape Town. 

Suggested Bet: Virat Kohli to be India’s Top 1st Innings Batsman 3.30

Temba Bavuma to be South Africa’s Top 1st Innings Batsman

Bavuma has been in fine form across all three formats and is among the leading run-scorers in the ongoing India-South Africa Test series with two half-centuries and two not-out scores in four innings.  The vice-captain is one of the most technically sound batters in the South African camp along with Keegan Petersen and that has shown in this series as most Proteas batters struggled against one of the best bowling attacks in world cricket.  

His only Test Century came over six years ago in Newlands and Bavuma will be hoping that the iconic Newlands will give life to his Test career with a second Test ton.

Suggested Bet: Temba Bavuma to be South Africa’s Top 1st Innings Batsman 5.00

India to Win

Yes, the Proteas won last week, and they did it in just four days. That Test win in Joburg gave South Africans a glimmer of hope that maybe this will be the moment our Test side turns a corner toward becoming world-beaters in Test cricket again. I hate to spoil it, but I think the Indians will bounce back in Cape Town and will be high in confidence with their skipper back in the XI and also with Mohammed Shami in full fitness again.  

It has become a bit of a habit that when India wins a Test, they most probably fail to win the following Test and that is exactly what happened in the first two Tests. But also, whenever India have lost a Test, they most certainly come back with an incredible performance and I think we will see a similar performance and trend in Cape Town this week.  

One thing’s for sure, South Africa have proven they are by no means pushovers and that they are hard to beat. But looking at this Test purely on what the two sides can offer, India will probably win the Test and the series. They have a strong leader, high calibre middle top-order batters, an incredible duo of all-rounders in Ravi Ashwin and Shardul Thakur, and also the best bowling attack in the world. They have it all. 

Suggested Bet: India to win 2.10