India look to avoid first series whitewash against South Africa

There seems to be no respite for trouble-stricken Team India. Five days before the final Test on a pitch that bore an excessively green tinge, pacer Kagiso Rabada said South Africa are gunning for a whitewash of India, having trampled the visitors in the first two matches.

The hosts have taken an unassailable 2-0 lead with convincing wins in the first two Tests, with Rabada producing a match-winning spell at the Newlands.

"Obviously we know how to play fast bowling and we've got respect for their attack. Every game you go into, you want to win. So obviously we want to get a whitewash against India."

Rabada said that India are too reliant on skipper Virat Kohli, who scored his 21st Test hundred at Centurion.

"I think they do rely on him. But it is just like we rely on a couple of players too. I'm not saying India don't have any quality players, they do. But it's just a fact - Kohli scores most of their runs.

"It is really enjoyable bowling to the likes of him. He was named ICC Player of the Year (sic), so it's quite cool to go up against the best." When asked about India's lack of preparation going into the series, he said, "I don't know what's going on in their preparation. That's not something we want to look at really.

The young pacer though feels that the Indian attack has given a good account in the two Tests.

"The fast bowlers are excited to bowl at the Wanderers. We always are as it has pace, bounce and swing. Bumrah is a very good bowler, he's already opening the bowling now. He's done very well with the one-day stuff and now he's doing very well in the Test matches too.

"Mohammed Shami is very experienced and got some pace. Bhuvneshwar Kumar caused a lot of trouble in Cape Town, they've got good fast bowlers."

India will take on South Africa in the third and final Test at the Wanderers in Johannesburg from January 24.