South Africa vs India 2018: Expected changes in the Indian playing XI for the 3rd Test

#1 Ajinkya Rahane in for Hardik Pandya

Rahane led India to win the Border-Gavaskar trophy

Ajinkya Rahane's exclusion from the side has been the biggest riddle of the tour. Dropping the team's vice-captain is unprecedented in the history of the game. Rahane has been one batsman whom India have turned to in overseas conditions. He also has the highest average among Indian batsmen on foreign soil.

After scoring 93 in the first innings at Cape Town, Pandya has not been able to pull off something extraordinary. Moreover, when the team needed him to occupy the crease in the 2nd Test, he threw his wicket away in both the innings. Pandya, for no fault of his, is disturbing the team's balance. It would be a better bet to go in with an extra batsman in the form of Rahane as opposed to a rookie all-rounder.