India's tour of South Africa 2018: Analysing India's bowling resources

Ashwin would be itching to better his overseas record

Ravichandran Ashwin

Although his overseas record so far has not set the world on fire, it would be difficult to ignore his experience and returns in his esteemed career. With SA boasting of several left-handers, he may well be picked ahead of Jadeja. The moot point remains whether he would extract purchase from those grassy green seaming surfaces. He may well have to adapt quickly by altering his speeds, angles etc to look to hoodwink the batsmen.

Ravindra Jadeja

Given his forte is miserly accuracy, I will opt for him ahead of Ashwin unless the team wants to look at Protean left-handers and play Ashwin. It is definitely going to challenge his skills and these are interesting times as he likes his bow to be dually strung, and with no veritable purchase abroad, it may well affect his all-around skills too in these pacey decks.

All in all, it promises to be a mouthwatering prospect for these pacers, as they eagerly look to tie the bootlaces and look to bowl their socks off every single time for their skipper and team. A tough old task, but if you ask me, it is not beyond them and the odds dare I say, are not long!

Time, (about time too!) to shape up beckons for a side that enjoys Test match pole position, and it won't be out of place to surmise that the first session of the first day at Capetown on January 5th would give an inkling of the possibilities that are pregnant.