South Africa vs India 2018: Ideal playing XI for the third Test

Bowlers:

Bhuvneshwar Kumar:

His swing makes him a potent force

Bhuvneshwar Kumar should replace Bumrah because the latter needs some rest. Bumrah has been tidy with the ball in the two Tests, but bowling almost 40 overs spread over two innings will take a toll on his shoulders, the part that bears the most stress in his slinging action.

In short, Jasprit Bumrah is an asset which should be used judiciously. Bhuvneshwar was the best performer with the ball in the first Test and can continue from where he left off from. Though he clocks in at the early 130s, his prodigious swing, which will be an asset especially in pitches conducive to bowling, makes up for it.

Mohammad Shami:

Though his stamina is a headache, Shami is the leader of the pace battery

The way he had Quinton de Kock dance to his tunes, it will be hard to leave Shami out of the squad. He is a genuine quickie who seems to be the most effective when used in frequent short spells. He and Bhuvneshwar have somewhat contrasting characters, as Shami relies more on his speed to outsmart the batsmen.

However, Shami cannot bowl long spells due to his ever-dodgy knee, but the presence of the next bowler makes up for the problem.

Ishant Sharma:

Ishant may be the containing option

Ishant Sharma's modus operandi is different from the other two. He has appreciable pace, but he tries to extract more bounce out of the surface, aided by his height.

This inclination makes him a hit-the-deck type bowler who can bowl marathon spells, thanks to his stamina. He will perform the role of the workhorse, operating from one end while Shami and Bhuvneshwar are shuffled in the other.