Predicted India XI for the First Test

Virat Kohli will be hoping to lead the Indian squad to another Test series victory‘Mushkil hain, mazaa ayega’ was the broadcasters’ tagline for this high profile Freedom series between two cricketing powerhouses. South Africa has won both the T20 and the ODI series and the game tally stands at 5-2 in South Africa’s favour.That means the stakes are high as India play for pride. They cannot afford to lose the Test series and that ignominy isn’t really a far-fetched option given how South Africa have answers for everything India has thrown at them so far, from the ramparts of their fortress.India will be playing under a different captain and that could be an invigorating change especially considering Virat Kohli’s last outing as captain saw India win a rare away series in Sri Lanka, that too coming back from a deficit.India sprung back twice even during the ODI series which means, the fight hasn’t left them. However, they are simply stated, pitted against a better team if you compare man to man. We take a look at India’s probable XI which is not India’s first choice considering Ishant Sharma will be serving a ban.That is a big loss on a Mohali wicket which generally has good carry and offers assistance for the seam bowlers. The stakes are also high because one of the two teams is almost invincible at home and the other hasn’t lost in nearly a decade on the road.

#11 Bhuvneshwar Kumar

Bhuvneshwar will need to start swinging the ball again to get back to form

Had Ganguly been skipper, there was a good chance he would pick Binny as the second new ball bowler almost scoffing over Indian tracks and their unfriendliness to pacers. On other days, he might have taken the risk of unleashing both Aaron and Yadav’s pace.

But, Kohli will probably go for the security of Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s steadiness over Aaron’s unpredictability. Kumar hasn’t had any Test caps in a long time, but he seems to have picked up some pace, if the ODI numbers are to be believed.

The worry though is that he wasn’t swinging the ball. One wonders if he can swing the red cherry. India will desperately want it from him while also keeping one end tight when the attacking spinners are bowling. Kumar would put more fight in the tail too, given his batting capability.

#10 Umesh Yadav

Yadav needs to be consistent with his line and length

16 wickets in 6 Tests over the last 12 months at a criminal average of 50.68 is not a good sign for India. But Kohli showed who he inclines to in the battle of speedsters after the skipper went for Yadav instead of Varun Aaron midway of the Sri Lanka series.

Yadav did well getting India the breakthroughs, with a surprise element. But he is too wayward, an indiscipline that has seen him losing his ODI spot to Mohit Sharma after Dhoni openly criticised his inconsistency.

But, Yadav is still a better bowler than his numbers suggest and can swing the ball, unlike Aaron. He will definitely share the new ball with Bhuvneshwar Kumar, who is likely to edge ahead of Aaron.

#9 Amit Mishra

Mishra has performed well since his return to the national squad

The unsung hero of the Cricbuzz Cup, Mishra picked up 15 wickets in his last three Tests he has played over the last 12 months, at an average of 15. This is the best anyone has ever seen Mishra bowl, full of guile, varying his pace and deceiving the batsmen.

Mishra and Ashwin will form a fine bowling partnership and the off-spin and leg-spin clicking together is vital to Kohli’s plans of toppling the South African batting. Mishra’s presence will also bolster India’s batting, given how his knocks down the order helped India draw advantage against Sri Lanka.

At No. 9, he will be priceless with the bat making up for a weaker No. 7 batsman. His personal troubles notwithstanding (a case has been booked against him for an assault over a woman), he should play.

#8 Ravichandran Ashwin

Ashwin is India’s biggest weapon against the Proteas

The most improved bowler over the last 12 months, Ashwin’s absence according to AB de Villiers made the difference between India winning the ODI series and losing it.

One of the top 5 bowlers in all three formats of the game on current form, Ashwin who was Man of the Series in the Cricbuzz Cup has 38 wickets in just 7 Tests in the last 12 months with three five-wicket hauls.

Ruled out of the greater part of the ODI series due to the side strain, Ashwin has been cleared and one would hope he will be hale and healthy to turn India back into winnings ways. Ashwin’s presence will also be a great confidence booster given his excellent record against AB de Villiers, South Africa’s best batsman.

#7 Ravindra Jadeja

Jadeja has been in brilliant form in the Ranji matches he has played so far

Jadeja, once ridiculed and left out of the team could’ve proven to be the difference between a series win and loss in the ODIs, where Akshar Patel failed consistently as a No. 7 batsman. But Jadeja came back into the reckoning with some roaring performances for Saurashtra in the domestic circuit with both bat and ball.

Jadeja has six successive five-wicket hauls and has won games with the ball alone, including a seven-for. Given Kohli’s preference for five bowlers, it would be a tussle between Stuart Binny and Ravindra Jadeja.

On a green Mohali pitch, with Ishant missing, Binny has a slight chance but the odds are in favour of Jadeja getting a nod as the third spinner adding variety with his left-arm. He is also more experienced in Tests than Binny, a critical factor against the best travellers in Tests. Jadeja hasn’t played a Test in the last 12 months, though, but his selection ahead of Harbhajan Singh definitely throws light on his chances as he appears for one more Ranji match before the first Test begins.

#6 Wriddhiman Saha

Caption

Coincidentally, Saha had won his Test cap against South Africa as a specialist batsman when Rohit Sharma injured himself on the morning of the match missing a debut game. Saha showed some promise against Sri Lanka before his injury led to Naman Ojha’s debut in the third Test.

However, he is back in the squad and is currently India’s first choice wicket-keeper. However, he is short of international match practice and it was surprising to see Ojha turn up for the Board President’s XI against South Africa.

He got a substantial knock under his belt as well, staking his claim for the wicket-keeper’s spot. Currently, Saha is the front-runner and it would have made a lot of sense for him to play the game to experience the quality of the South African bowling.

Saha has waited in the wings for a long time and has only made it to the team on a consistent basis after MS Dhoni’s retirement. He definitely has what it takes to guts it out against the toughest opponents.

#5 Ajinkya Rahane

Rahane is turning out to be Mr. Dependable for Team India

Rahane first made his name against South Africa playing in their own den. Now, he is India’s most trusted batsman for all conditions and with Pujara taking care of No. 3 he will be back to his favourite No. 5 from where he can take care of the middle order, score quick runs of an older ball and also work with the lower middle order.

Rahane had a reasonably long run in the ODIs where he did really well, against expectations and that will show in his form in whites, where he is most comfortable. India’s middle order of Pujara, Kohli and Rahane hold the key for India’s showing against an intimidating South African bowling attack that ticks every box – pace, attacking spin, movement off the deck, bounce. One would only hope Rahane continues his fine form with the bat.

#4 Virat Kohli

Kohli will look to lead the team from the front

Kohli found form in whites during the Sri Lanka series and his ODI form which had also gone up a notch after the fabulous Chennai ton makes for good tidings. Kohli has the most runs by an Indian in the last 12 months in Tests – 939 in 8 matches at 62.6.

His staggering conversion is also evident as he has crossed 50 seven times and went on to make a ton five times out of those seven. India will want him to score runs like he did against Australia in Australia if they are to challenge a supremely confident and talented South African side.

Kohli, like Pujara and Rahane, is a good player of short-pitched bowling, which one can be sure will be dished out in venomous quantities during the four Tests. India needs a confident Kohli with bat and as skipper.

#3 Cheteshwar Pujara

Pujara’s resilience might turn out to be crucial for India

What do you do when you have been left out of the team for almost a year, albeit a little unfairly and get a chance because of another first choice batsman’s injury? You go out, score a match-winning ton and become the first batsman internationally in close to four years to carry his bat.

Pujara has done enough to be India’s first choice No. 3 against a high-quality South African pace battery. India will need his grit and determination to not be blown away by the likes of Dale Steyn, Morne Morkel and Kagiso Rabada who might get a Test cap this series after a spectacular ODI series.

Pujara has averaged close to 50 in the last 12 months where he has played a total of four Tests. But, he is going to retain his No. 3 ahead of Rohit Sharma who has failed at that position.

#2 Rohit Sharma

Two critical half-centuries down the order have salvaged Rohit Sharma’s career for the moment, although his abysmal sub-30 average in 7 Tests in the last 12 months will stare at him as he walks out in whites. The good news though is that he was India’s best batsman in the shorter formats, at ease with the bowling and timing the ball beautifully.

The whole of India will hope Rohit carries that form to the Tests. Rohit has extra incentive to grab what might be his last opportunity in whites given that his skippers have tried their best in the past to accommodate him.

He was able to play down the order against Sri Lanka when Pujara opened. Once again, that could be the case, with Ajinkya Rahane moving to No. 3, so Rohit could bat at No. 5.

However, that would unsettle the whole batting order given how Pujara is a classical No. 3 batsman and Rahane is better off being left at No. 5. Rohit has a better case than Dhawan for a No. 2 slot given how he performed well at the top in the ODIs and seemed at ease against all South African bowlers.

With competition from Lokesh Rahul who scored a class half-century for the Board President’s XI, this could be a crucial break for Rohit.

#1 Murali Vijay

Murali Vijay has performed consistently at the top for India

The Monk has a modest Test average of 41.72, but in the last 12 months, he has been India’s second most prolific run-scorer – 714 at an average of 65 in just 6 Tests with 2 centuries and 5 half-centuries.

India will be thankful for his calming influence at the top. That comfort was not available entirely for Indian team during the three-Test series against Sri Lanka, when Vijay had to sit out for two Tests due to an injury.

Vijay’s form is crucial against a South African pace bowling attack that can only be worn down by his patience that has seen him become one of the top three leavers of the ball in Tests, in terms of balls faced. Vijay will also be fresh and free from the burden of loss in the shorter formats and India needs every bit of that positivity.