Find out all you need to know about the clash between the sides in Ranchi
The third and final Test of the series between India and South Africa. The hosts are looking to complete a whitewash of the tourists, after emphatic victories in the first two clashes. Virat Kohli's men took an unassailable 2-0 lead in the series with an innings victory in Pune to continue The Proteas' misery.
Faf du Plessis' side have now not won a series in India since 2000 when they prevailed 2-0 thanks to victories in Mumbai and Bengaluru, but hopes of emulating that side are firmly over.
FIRST TEST: Dr Y.S Rajasekhara Reddy ACA-VDCA Cricket Stadium, Visakhapatnam (Wednesday, October 2 - Sunday, October 6) - India won by 203 runs
SECOND TEST: Maharashtra Cricket Association Stadium, Pune (Thursday, October 10 - Monday, October 14) - India won by an innings and 137 runs
THIRD TEST: JSCA International Stadium Complex, Ranchi (Saturday, October 19 - Wednesday, October 23)
Victory in the second Test over South Africa saw India set a new record for successive home series wins. That streak now sits at 11 and eclipses Australia, who twice won 10 on the bounce.
Virat Kohli scored an unbeaten 254 to lay the foundations for the victory. The double century is his seventh -the most of any India player - going past Sachin Tendulkar and Virender Sehwag in the all-time list. Only Don Bradman, Kumar Sangakkara and Brian Lara have more.
Despite Kohli's knock, he was forced to share the limelight in Pune. Mayank Agarwal went to a second Test century, Umesh Yadav chipped in with six wickets across both innings and Wriddhiman Saha produced some stellar catches behind the stumps.
Saha has responded to the faith put in him by the selectors after some heroics behind the stumps. Both dismissals of Theunis de Bruyn were veiled in eye-watering brilliance. The first came as he dived across first slip to take a two-handed grab; the second as he flew to his left one-handed.
Though the series is secure, Kohli's men are not ready to rest on their laurels and want to maintain their 100 per cent Test record this season.
"It's been nice, but looking at the larger picture, the Test Championship, every game has even more value," said Kohli
"We're not going to take the foot off the gas in the third Test, we're looking for a result again, and hopefully make it 3-0.
"Because these points are important, we understand that, with the Test Championship it's going to be very crucial, at all the stages, when we play away from home as well. And no one's going to relax at any stage, that's a guarantee."
With the series secured, India would field a somewhat experimental side for the third Test. This could be Shubman Gill's opportunity in the middle order having been given his maiden call-up for this series.
Wriddhiman Saha is set to retain the gloves ahead of Rishabh Pant, who continues to be overlooked. Hanuma Vihari and Kuldeep Yadav are among those also waiting in the wings.
Jasprit Bumrah was included in the original squad but a stress fracture in his lower back has seen him replaced by Umesh Yadav, who went unused against the West Indies and in Vishkapatnam.
India squad: Virat Kohli (c), Mayank Agarwal, Rohit Sharma, Cheteshwar Pujara, Ajinkya Rahane (vc), Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant (wk), Wriddhiman Saha (wk), R Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav, Ishant Sharma, Shubman Gill
The inquest has very much begun into South Africa's shortcomings in this series. Captain Faf du Plessis, who of course missed the T20 series, believes his side lacked the mental fortitude to keep India at bay in Pune - a deficiency which does not bode well for the third Test.
South African cricket is going through a period of transition on and off the field. Behind the scenes, the sport is being restructured and those changes has included the exit of Ottis Gibson as coach following the World Cup.
Personnel wise, the away side are without a number of familiar faces who have taken their leave. Dale Steyn and Hashim Amla are among the recent figures to abandon the side.
Thabang Monroe, Cricket South Africa chief executive, has asked for supporters to be realistic over performances but insists the team wil be more settled for the visit of England in December.
"It was always going to be a difficult challenge taking on the top team in the world - certainly under their own conditions - in India at a time when we have introduced a new team structure," he insisted.
"You don't replace that kind of experience overnight and we need to give a new generation time to settle."
"These things take time and I am confident that we will already see improvement in our next Test series when England are our visitors during the festive season. I am sure that our supporters will rally behind them on home turf."
George Linde could make his Test debut in Ranchi after being enlisted to replace Keshav Maharaj. Rudi Second and Senuran Muthusamy are the only two uncapped players left in the squad and could be given an opportunity having had a watching brief so far during the series.
South Africa squad: Faf du Plessis (c), Temba Bavuma, Theunis de Bruyn, Quinton de Kock, Dean Elgar, Zubayr Hamza, George Linde, Aiden Markram, Senuran Muthusamy, Lungi Ngidi, Anrich Nortje, Vernon Philander, Dane Piedt, Kagiso Rabada, Rudi Second
Vernon Philander has struggled throughout the series
Thunderstorms are predicted for the opening day in Ranchi but the remainder of the game, bar some showers potentially on day three, is expected to be clear and sunny.
In the UK, the third Test will be broadcast on Star Gold HD (Sky channel 717, Virgin Media 801, TalkTalk Plus TV 551). Alternatively, Hotstar will be streaming the entire series.
In India, Star Sports will be showing the Tests while ESPN will be broadcasting the match in the United States and beyond.
India are heavy favourites to complete the whitewash, with Dafabet offering odds of 4/11, while South Africa are available at 7/1. The draw is at 10/3.
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