South Africa will be playing for little more than pride when they take on India in the third and final one-dayer in Ahmedabad on Saturday.
India clinched the series on Wednesday when they crushed the Proteas by a mammoth 153 runs, with Sachin Tendulkar becoming the first player in the history of one-day internationals to score a double century.
However, Tendulkar and fellow batsman Virender Sehwag will be rested for the match, the Indian cricket board said in a statement on Thursday.
Following his record-breaking feat, Indian media lined up to shower the “God” Tendulkar with front-page tributes and predicted the record-shattering batsman was not finished yet.
Tendulkar’s (37) landmark dominated the front pages of leading newspapers, even overshadowing India-Pakistan diplomatic talks.
“Immortal at 200”, screamed a banner headline in the Times of India, while the Indian Express ran a half-page photo of a celebrating Tendulkar with the word “God!”
A similar front-page photo in the Hindustan Times, headlined “200 not out”, was followed by an appreciation by Tendulkar’s former teammate and bowling great Anil Kumble.
“The way he celebrated when he reached his 200 epitomised the man’s persona,” Kumble, an ex-India captain, wrote.
“There were no running laps around the field, no aggressive gestures, nothing over-the-top.
“He did what he always does. Raised both his arms, closed his eyes for a moment and quietly acknowledged it had been done.
“If the youngsters in the team can take even 10% of what he does, they will be better cricketers for it.”