India, which leads the series 1-0, is using three slow bowlers on a pitch expected to help spinners early on. Leg-spinner Amit Mishra was brought in to support offspinner Ravichandran Ashwin and left-arm spinner Ravindra Jadeja, while batsman Rohit Sharma was also added to the lineup.Ishant Sharma is the lone pace bowler in the lineup.
South Africa replaced pace bowler Kyle Abbott with offspinner Simon Harmer.
The second test at Bangalore ended in a draw after four days of heavy rain. India won the first test at Mohali by 108 runs in less than three days on a turning pitch.
South Africa, which has not lost an away series in nine years, started the current series with the hope of beating India in all three cricket formats. It won an earlier five-match, one-day international series 3-2, and a three-match Twenty20 series 2-0.
India and South Africa last played a test at this venue in 2010 when the visitors secured an innings victory on a good batting pitch.
Lineups:
India: Murali Vijay, Shikhar Dhawan, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (captain), Ajinkya Rahane, Rohit Sharma, Wriddhiman Saha, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Amit Mishra, Ishant Sharma.
South Africa: Dean Elgar, Stiaan van Zyl, Faf du Plessis, Hashim Amla (captain), A.B. de Villiers, Jean-Paul Duminy, Dane Vilas, Kagiso Rabada, Morne Morkel, Imran Tahir, Simon Harmer.
Related story
England wins toss, bats vs. South Africa in 3rd test
