 "‘Pakistan can surprise India’: Former Pakistan cricketer’s bold prediction for Asia Cup 2025 showdown")
 "Misbah, Shoaib deliver Kuldeep, Abhishek verdict after India demolish UAE in Asia Cup: 'This is called intent'")
Preview: India will aim for a victory on what could be another spin-friendly surface when the fourth and final Test gets rolling at the Feroz Shah Kotla Stadium here on Thursday. Having won the first and third Tests to take an unassailable 2-0 lead in the four-match series, the Indians will go into the final contest aiming to record their biggest series win over South Africa with a 3-0 verdict. “In terms of mindset, we want to be ruthless. We are not satisfied with 2-0. If we have any chance to go 3-0 up, we try to achieve that. We will give our 100 percent,” India captain Virat Kohli said after a practice session here on Wednesday. [caption id=“attachment_2524114” align=“alignleft” width=“380”]  File picture of India cricketers. AFP[/caption] Victory in the fourth Test will propell India to the second spot in the International Cricket Council (ICC) rankings. The hosts had started the series at the fifth position. They are currently at the fourth place having gained a place after Pakistan’s 2-0 series victory over England earlier this month. The Proteas will continue their reign at the top of of the ICC list despite losing the series. If India lose the Delhi Test, they will end the series at third-ranked team with Australia at the second spot. With the Feroz Shah Kotla pitch expected to retain its low and slow nature, the hosts may opt to reatin their three-pronged spin attack consisting of in-form off-spinner Ravichandran Ashwin, leg-spinner Amit Mishra and left-armer Ravindra Jadeja. The trio have accounted for 47 of the 50 South African wickets to have fallen in this series and will be aiming for an encore on the helpful Kotla surface. Ishant Sharma was the lone pacer for India during the Nagpur Test, but with the series already in his pocket, Kohli may opt to make some changes in the playing XI. The Indian team management may opt to drop Ajinkya Rahane in favour of another pacer in all-rounder Stuart Binny or fast bowler Varun Aaron. Opening batsman Shikhar Dhawan has not been among the runs of late and Kohli may be tempted to drop the Delhi batsman in favour of the promising Lokesh Rahul. Murali Vijay – the other opener – has been in excellent form and is the best Indian batsman in this series with 195 runs. The talented Cheteshwar Pujara is also in fine knick with 160 runs in his kitty. The hosts will again look to the in-form duo to boost the batting along with Kohli. The South Africans will continue to miss pace spearhead Dale Steyn. The experienced fast bowler is battling a lingering groin injury that has limited his participation in the series to a solitary contest in the opening Test in Mohali. With a home series against England starting on December 26, the visitors decided against fielding the 32-year-old in the inconsequential final Test. “I can confirm that Dale Steyn is not going to be fit. Dale is not playing in this game,” South Africa captain Hashim Amla told reporters on Wednesday. The visitors will also have to do without the services of talented fast bowler Vernon Philander, who sustained an ankle injury during a practice session ahead of the second Test in Bengaluru to be ruled out of the remainder of the series. In their absence, Morne Morkel will continue to lead the Proteas attack. Leg-spinner Imran Tahir has also thrived in the spin-friendly conditions, claiming a five-wicket haul during the second innings of the Nagpur Test. In the batting department, AB de Villiers will need to continue his good form. Amla, who himself endured a run of poor scores in the series, showed signs of returning to form during the second innings in Nagpur with a fighting 72-run partnership along with Faf du Plesis. J.P. Duminy has also been a good option lower down the order. Despite being outplayed throughout the series, Amla is determined to win the last Test and finish their Indian sojourn on a high note. “We got the England series very close, two weeks after we get back. It`s very important for us to get back to winning ways,” he said. “There is no freebies in test cricket. You want to make an impact and you want to win. It`s very important for us to go at least 2-1, salvage some pride from the series. “We came to India almost two-and-half months ago and we had a largely successful tour in terms of winning the Twenty20 and the one-dayers. It would be nice to cap off the tour with a victory,” Amla added. IANS
India vs South Africa 4th Test, day 1 as it happened: Rahane takes India to 231/7
Live scores and updates of day 1 of fourth Test between India and South Africa in Delhi.
 "India vs South Africa 4th Test, day 1 as it happened: Rahane takes India to 231/7")
First time in the series that side batting first has not been dismissed on the opening day of the Test!#IndvsSA
— Rajneesh Gupta (@rgcricket) December 3, 2015
After 84 overs India 231/7 (Rahane 89, Ashwin 6)
Another good over form Piedt. He’s bowled his heart out. This was his 34th over.
After 83 overs India 230/7 (Rahane 88, Ashwin 6)
Good disciplined over from Elgar. Just one run off it.
After 82 overs India 229/7 (Rahane 87, Ashwin 6)
Piedt induces an inside edge off Ashwin but it falls well short of the silly mid on fielder. Just the one single off the over.
After 81 overs India 228/7 (Rahane 86, Ashwin 6)
After three good deliveries, Elgar fluffs his lines, darts one down the leg side and Ashwin paddles it fine for a boundary. Five runs off the over.
After 80 overs India 223/7 (Rahane 85, Ashwin 2)
Rahane is playing really well, he charges and hammers one over mid-wicket for a boundary. Piedt responds well to bowl three dot balls but then Rahane sweeps the last one to deep square leg for a single to keep strike.
After 79 overs India 216/7 (Rahane 78, Ashwin 2)
A good tight over from Morkel, a maiden.
After 78 overs India 216/7 (Rahane 78, Ashwin 2)
Rahane is lucky to be still out there. Bavuma has had a tough time standing at short leg. He played a part in Kohli’s wicket and this time Rahane smacks it straight into his leg. Rahane then smacks a pull off the next ball and it whizzes past Bavuma for a boundary through square leg. Rahane then has a lifeline as he gets an outside edge off a straighter one and Amla drops a simple one – his 2nd of the day. 4 runs and a missed chance in the over. India have now surpassed their highest score in the series.
After 77 overs India 212/7 (Rahane 74, Ashwin 2)
After five good balls, Morkel drags one wide, Rahane cuts it to deep point for a single to end the over.
After 76 overs India 211/7 (Rahane 73, Ashwin 2)
There is a stifled bat pad catch appeal but the umpire says no. Ashwin was lucky as he had got a glove to it. Ashwin defends the rest of the over cautiously. A maiden.
After 74 overs India 211/7 (Rahane 73, Ashwin 2)
Just two runs from the over where Rahane punched one through point for a couple.
Both South Africa and India started with playing five bowlers in Mohali and have reverted to playing only four by the last Test. #IndvSA
— Aakash Chopra (@cricketaakash) December 3, 2015
Umesh Yadav will negate these Imran Tahir overs#IndvsSA
— Gaurav Sethi (@BoredCricket) December 3, 2015
After 74 overs India 209/7 (Rahane 71, Ashwin 2)
Too many gift balls on offer, Tahir is releasing the pressure. He drops one short, Rahane pulls it through mid-wicket for a four, he then delivers a full toss and Rahane hammers it over long on for another boundary. Another full toss and this time Rahane misses out as he flicks it to fine leg for a single. Ashwin then guides a googly wide of short third man for a couple. 11 runs off the over, a good one for India.
After 73 overs India 198/7 (Rahane 62, Ashwin 0)
A wicket maiden from Abbott. He got some reverse swing going.
OUT! Abbott strikes! RA Jadeja c Elgar b Abbott 24 (59b 3×4 0x6)
Jadeja walks down the track and flicks a full delivery on off to mid-wicket, Elgar dives and takes a very good low catch. A wicket at a crucial juncture for South Africa.
Ravichandran Ashwin is the new batsman.
Indian top order collapsed yet again. Join us for a chat w/ @cricketwallah at the end of day's play #INDvSA pic.twitter.com/qizJGOrRaC
— Firstpost Sports (@FirstpostSports) December 3, 2015
After 72 overs India 198/6 (Rahane 62, Jadeja 24)
Tahir varied his pace really well in that over. There was a huge caught behind appeal as Tahir ripped a leg spinner past Rahane but the umpire turned it down. Then there was a googly which Rahane defended well. A maiden over.
After 71 overs India 198/6 (Rahane 62, Jadeja 24)
A huge LBW shout turned down agains Jadeja off the first ball. Looked close but might have missed the leg stump. Piedt then misses his lengths, gives away a couple of singles and then Jadeja cuts one through point for a couple. 4 runs off the over.
After 70 overs India 194/6 (Rahane 61, Jadeja 21)
There you go. A gift ball from Tahir in the over. Short and wide outside off, Jadeja thumps it through covers. A single off the last ball makes it 7 runs off the over.
Meanwhile, its selfie time for the kids at Kotla with @sanjaymanjrekar and @7polly7 #IndvsSA pic.twitter.com/OMtWIpmGBF
— BCCI (@BCCI) December 3, 2015
After 69 overs India 187/6 (Rahane 61, Jadeja 14)
Rahane playing some wonderful shots now. Jadeja takes a single off the first ball and three balls later, Rahane smacks one through extra cover for a boundary. He, however, get an inside edge off the last ball but it falls short of the short leg fielder.
'Won't require surgery...': Real reason behind Jasprit Bumrah's absence from 5th Test revealed in new report
Jasprit Bumrah was rested for fifth Test against England at The Oval Workload management was believed to be the reason behind Bumrah's absence The pacer, however, reportedly has a knee injury, a BCCI official claimed in a report.
More Impact Shorts "Israel targets top Hamas leaders in Doha; Qatar, Iran condemn strike as violation of sovereignty")
 "Nepal: Oli to continue until new PM is sworn in, nation on edge as all branches of govt torched")
 "Who is CP Radhakrishnan, India's next vice-president?")
 "Israel informed US ahead of strikes on Hamas leaders in Doha, says White House")
 "Israel targets top Hamas leaders in Doha; Qatar, Iran condemn strike as violation of sovereignty")
 "Nepal: Oli to continue until new PM is sworn in, nation on edge as all branches of govt torched")
 "Who is CP Radhakrishnan, India's next vice-president?")
 "Israel informed US ahead of strikes on Hamas leaders in Doha, says White House")
](https://images.firstpost.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/Kohli_Ashwin_RTR_Rahane.jpg){kind=link}
Top Shows
