Batting legend Sunil Gavaskar is disappointed with India Cricket Team after their crushing loss to South Africa in IND vs SA 1st Test. The Centurion Test lasted only three days as Proteas inflicted innings defeat. Now as Rohit Sharma & Co head to Newlands, Cape Town for the final Test of the series, Gavaskar has proposed two changes to India Playing XI.
With Ravichandran Ashwin ineffective in Centurion, he wants Ravindra Jadeja to return if he is fit. Jadeja missed SA vs IND 1st Test with back spasm. But his absence weakened the batting with Ashwin at No 7.
“Hopefully, Ravindra Jadeja will be fit and he will be back. And Mukesh Kumar in place of Prasidh Krishna will be another option for me. Generally, wind assists deliveries in Cape Town and the bowlers who can swing the ball in the air are successful. Mukesh Kumar could be the one,” Sunil Gavaskar said on Star Sports show.
Ravindra Jadeja’s return will bolster the batting more than aiding the spin-bowling department. With Newlands’ pitch likely to be similar to Centurion, there won’t be much assistance for spinners. Hence, India will go with a solitary spinner, dropping Ashwin to the bench in the SA vs IND 2nd Test.
The next change Sunil Gavaskar has proposed is of Prasidh Krishna. The Karnataka fast bowler had a torrid debut, going for 93 runs in 20 overs with just one wicket in SA vs IND 1st Test.
He wants Mukesh Kumar to come back in as he can swing the ball. He will be the third seamer along side Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj.