India to make yougsters play in the last ODI against SA

A revamped Indian outfit will clash with a wounded South African side in the third and final One- day International at the Sardar Patel Gujarat Stadium in Motera, on the outskirts of the city, on Saturday.

With the series already in the bag, India have opted to test their bench strength ahead of the Twenty20 World Cup in West Indies in April- May. The youngsters will be up against a charged up Proteas side, which insists it is not lacking in motivation. The hurt of defeat is writ large on the usually jovial faces in the team, and the players will be keen to win back their pride.

Most members of the squad would have happy memories of their last trip to this ground, for a Test match in 2008, when they embarrassed India by an innings and 90 runs on a green- top.

Senior batsman AB de Villiers said he was "pretty sure" that the playing XI would be shaken up for the match, with the Morkel brothers - paceman Morne and all- rounder Albie - likely to come in. Captain Jacques Kallis worked hard at the nets against the fast bowlers while wicketkeeper- batsman Mark Boucher was trying to simulate the Indian attack against the left- and right- arm spin combination of Roelof van der Merwe and Johan Botha respectively.

Van der Merwe did put Boucher in a tangle a few times, and is likely get the nod ahead of Botha if South Africa choose to play only one spinner.

However, they have lost a key component in Jean-Paul Duminy. The middle-order batsman sustained an injury to his left hand in the second ODI in Gwalior and also developed a toothache that forced him to return to South Africa on Thursday night.

Even though Duminy had been a non-factor throughout the Test and ODI series with the bat, his part-time off-spin had proved handy and his fielding remained top- notch.

On the other hand, the confidence in the Indian camp is there to see. Having secured the No. 2 ODI ranking India, for once, have the opportunity to perform without pressure.

Be that as it may, they did not appear to be taking the practice sessions lightly. Captain Mahendra Singh Dhoni and Murali Vijay were busy facing throwdowns from short distances while Virat Kohli and Suresh Raina also faced a variety of bowlers - from the pace of newcomer Abhimanyu Mithun to the guiles of leg- spinner Amit Mishra. Coach Gary Kirsten played his cards close to his chest regarding the team combination.

He did make it clear, though, that right-arm pacer Sudeep Tyagi will play. Mishra was also seen brushing up his batting skills, indicating that he might also come into the side. Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag have already been rested for this game.

The pitch for the encounter has a minimal sprinkling of grass which, according to pitch curator Dhiraj Parsana, will favour the batsmen. "I am expecting a score between 260 and 300, because we have left a little grass to bind the surface, which will aid the seamers in generating some bounce. Also, later on, good spinners can take advantage of the wicket," he told Mail Today. Parsana, who had come under fire for the flat track he produced for the India- Sri Lanka Test in November 2009, is worried about the dew factor playing a role in the evening.