The Indian Team is gearing up for the 1st Test against South Africa, after having played most of their cricket in familiar conditions for the past 18 months.
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Virat Kohli has stressed on the fact that India have the required ammunition and skill set to play well in foreign conditions and that the mindset of the team is very positive going into this series.
India have played with two spinners all this while at home, but will have to opt for a different combination in South African conditions, as the conditions would suit pace bowling.
While all this while, experts around the country were under the assumption that the number 6 spot will be contested for between Hardik Pandya and Rohit Sharma, but recent reports coming in from South Africa suggest that both Hardik and Rohit could make it to the XI, with Ajinkya Rahane having to sit out.
Ajinkya Rahane, who has been India’s most reliable batsman in foreign conditions, hasn’t really been in good form over the past few home series.
In a series of tweets from cricket historian, Boria Majumdar has said that India could be going in with four frontline bowlers, Hardik Pandya and Rohit Sharma for the 1st Test.
This means Ajinkya Rahane would have to sit out, owing to his recent poor form.
Check out his tweets:
News from SA is India likely to play 5 batsman and 5 bowlers @ImRo45 sure to play. @ajinkyarahane88 might sit out. @hardikpandya7 playing.
— Boria Majumdar (@BoriaMajumdar) January 4, 2018
Agree with all that if this happens and I say if, it will be a bold call. Leaving @ajinkyarahane88 out is a tough one. @ImRo45 sure to play.
— Boria Majumdar (@BoriaMajumdar) January 4, 2018
Sanjay Bangar, the Indian batting coach had his press conference today, and he spoke about the combination that India could go in with.
“Well, more or less that has been the pattern for the last 24 months or so wherein the team management has made the choices about the team composition, and whenever the wicket suits, if it’s a bowling-friendly track then obviously we might go with four bowlers and if the conditions are perceived to be batting-friendly we might opt for five bowlers. So that’s been case right through the last 24 months and I don’t think it will be anything different here. All of them are batting really well. Rohit on the back of his performances across formats, so all of them are in with a chance of playing. It boils down to the team balance and composition and we will take a call on the morning of the match who will get a nod.” said Bangar
India’s probable playing XI- KL Rahul, Murali Vijay, Cheteshwara Pujara, Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, Hardik Pandya, Wriddhiman Saha, R Ashwin, Bhuvaneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Umesh Yadav
