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What Du Plessis plans to do to end toss-losing streak

October 18, 2019 13:41 IST

South Africa's Faf du Plessis and India's Virat Kohli before the toss for the first Test match, at the ACA-VDCA stadium, in Visakhapatnam. Du Plessis has lost 9 successive tosses in Asian Test

IMAGE: South Africa's Faf du Plessis and India's Virat Kohli before the toss for the first Test match, at the ACA-VDCA stadium, in Visakhapatnam. Du Plessis has lost 9 successive tosses in Asian Tests. Photograph: BCCI

Having lost nine successive tosses in Asia, an exasperated South Africa captain Faf du Plessis won't mind sending "someone else" in his place for the toss of the coin in the third and final Test against India, beginning in Ranchi on Saturday.

South Africa have struggled in Indian conditions and not winning the toss in the first two Tests has only made things tougher for them. Opting to bat in Visakhapatnam and Pune, India put up 500-plus totals to virtually bat the visitors out of the game.

"We really want to make sure that we compete with this team in their own conditions. We have done it in stages in the first Test. So, hoping that we can start with the toss tomorrow.

"Probably we will change... send someone else to the toss tomorrow. I can give you that... because my records so far has not been great," said du Plessis, in a lighter vein, on the eve of the game.

Du Plesiss said "anything is possible" if his side get to bat first.

"If you put big runs in the first innings, that's where it needs to stop. Then anything from there is possible. Hopefully that will unfold in the next couple of days and hopefully we can put some runs on.

"The pitch looks a little bit drier and crustier so first innings runs will be vital and then anything from there is possible in the second innings," the South African skipper added.