South Africa's Dale Steyn set to miss third Test against India

South Africa fast bowler Dale Steyn is likely to miss the third Test against India as he continues to recover from a groin injury.

Steyn, currently ranked the best Test bowler in the world, was unavailable for the rain-ruined second Test in Bangalore and the tourists have added twice-capped seamer Marchant de Lange to their squad.

Kyle Abbott is set to share the new ball with Morne Morkel should Steyn be ruled out for the third Test in Nagpur, which begins on Wednesday, as South Africa seek to level the series after their humbling 108-run first Test defeat in Mohali.

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"Dale Steyn won't probably play in this Test match, I don't think his injury has recovered fully," said South Africa captain Hashim Amla.

"Not having Dale in the team is a setback because not having the best bowler in the world is never a nice thing but we've got to deal with it and we've got some good reserves. Hopefully, the guys who play will get a chance to stand out."

With Vernon Philander out of the series and Steyn - who took 10 wickets when South Africa won in Nagpur five years ago - struggling, South Africa's attack could comprise of Morkel and Abbott with either Dane Piedt or Simon Harmer playing as a second spinner alongside Imran Tahir and JP Duminy offering an off-break option.

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South Africa have so far been undone by the spin of India's Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja, who have taken 24 of the 30 wickets to fall as the tourists struggled to scores of 184 and 109 in Mohali and made 214 on the first day at Bangalore.

The pitch in Nagpur is expected to take spin and India may recall leg-spinner Amit Mishra, or hand all-rounder Gurkeerat Mann his first cap.

"If I was playing against them, I would find it really difficult to score off them," captain Virat Kohli said of his spinners. "I am sure it is not pleasant facing the three of them."

He added: "I don't know why there is so much of hue and cry about wickets in India. We have absolutely no problem in playing on wickets given to us.

"We are all in a very good space. I would like to give credit to the guys for staying in the zone."

Watch India take on South Africa in the third Test live on Sky Sports 2 from 3.50am on Wednesday.