IND vs SA LIVE 1st Test – Shardul Thakur all set to play? – Ahead of the Boxing Day Test against South Africa, Saturday’s training session was more about getting the final combination right. The spotlight was on Shardul Thakur. Both Rahul Dravid and skipper Virat Kohli were seen spending considerable time with him. Thakur batted for long at the nets with Dravid, Kohli watching. Does this mean Shardul will get a place in playing XI for Boxing Day Test? Follow India vs South Africa Live Updates on InsideSport. IN.
The test at Centurion is likely to throw up challenging conditions for the batsmen. The spongy bounce at the SuperSport Park is a challenge as KL Rahul declared on Friday.
To make the matter worse, India’s three specialist batsmen are out of form including skipper Virat Kohli besides Chetshwar Pujara and Ajinkya Rahane.
At No 6, Rishabh Pant too hasn’t done well in Tests in the last two series.
Also Read: IND vs SA LIVE: Virat Kohli ‘DESPERATE’ to get his MOJO back, Coach Rahul Dravid lends helping hand
IND vs SA 1st Test: Shardul Thakur all set to play? ‘All-rounder’ gets special batting session in last practice – Follow Live Updates
Hence, Rahul Dravid is expected to bolster the lower order’s batting. With Ravichandran Ashwin a certainty, India need an all-rounder who can play the role of a fifth bowler while also helping in batting. With no Hardik Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur is the only bowler with some batting pedigree.
IND vs SA 1st Test: Why Shardul Thakur is likely to get the nod?
- Shardul Thakur has impressed with the bat in his limited outings with the bat.
- He began the year with a promising 67 runs at the Gabba that changed the course of the game.
- He continued his decent run against England at the Oval with back-to-back fifties.
- With no Ravindra Jadeja and a seam-friendly condition in Centurion, Shardul is expected to get the nod.
- In the last practice session, head coach Rahul Dravid and skipper Virat Kohli paid close attention to Shardul Thakur’s batting at the nets.
IND vs SA 1st Test: Shardul Thakur all set to play? ‘All-rounder’ gets special batting session in last practice – Follow Live Updates
— BCCI (@BCCI) December 25, 2021
India to go with 5 Batsman? However, if Shardul gets the nod, it will certainly mean dropping an extra batsman. And Hanuma Vihari is unlikely to make the Playing XI.
For the No 5 slot, Hanuma can still give competition to Ajinkya Rahane and Shreyas Iyer but the former Test vice-captain is likely to get the nod.
IND vs SA 1st Test: Shardul Thakur all set to play? ‘All-rounder’ gets special batting session in last practice – Follow Live Updates
Ishant Sharma ‘UNLIKELY’ to get place in XI? There is also the factor of Ishant Sharma. After two unimpressive outings, he was unofficially dropped from the Playing XI in Mumbai and Ajinkya Rahane suffered a mysterious injury.
While Ishant is likely to be officially dropped, the question mark is on Rahane. While Dravid is expected to give him one last shot, there are chances that he will be dropped. But a final decision is likely to be taken on Sunday.
Furthermore, vice-captain in the Test series, KL Rahul too hinted at five bowlers and Shardul might be the guy.
“Most teams have started playing with four or five bowlers. every team wants to pick up ten wickets. we definitely use that tactic in every Test match we have played,” KL Rahul said at a virtual press conference on Friday.
IND vs SA 1st Test: Shardul Thakur all set to play? ‘All-rounder’ gets special batting session in last practice – Follow Live Updates
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