India Playing XI vs SA: Who will Kohli pick? Shardul or Iyer

India Playing XI vs SA: Extra batsman or seam all-rounder? Virat Kohli has difficult choice to make for Boxing Day Test

Saturday, Dec 25, 2021 12:03 am

India Playing XI vs SA: Extra batsman or seam all-rounder? Virat Kohli has a difficult choice to make for the Boxing Day Test against South Africa in Centurion. While most of the players are automatic choices, head coach Rahul Dravid and Kohli have to make a choice between a seam all-rounder or extra batsman. Follow […]

India Playing XI vs SA: Extra batsman or seam all-rounder? Virat Kohli has a difficult choice to make for the Boxing Day Test against South Africa in Centurion. While most of the players are automatic choices, head coach Rahul Dravid and Kohli have to make a choice between a seam all-rounder or extra batsman. Follow India vs South Africa Live Updates on InsideSport.IN.

With rain forecast for the first two days, the pitch is expected to help the seamers due to the presence of moisture in the air and picking up a seam all-rounder seems a logical choice. But considering India’s recent struggle in the middle-order, Virat Kohli may opt for an extra batsman against a difficult pace bowling attack.

Despite his poor form in 2021, Ajinkya Rahane is likely to get one last opportunity to prove his worth. But the competition for the other place is between Shardul Thakur — a seam all-rounder — and two batsmen — Shreyas Iyer and Hanuma Vihari.

India Playing XI vs SA: Extra batsman or seam all-rounder? Virat Kohli has difficult choice to make for Boxing Day Test

Also Read: India Tour of South-Africa: BCCI takes guarantee from CSA, ‘Indian team will be allowed to leave immediately in case Covid situation worsens’

India’s automatic choice (barring late injuries):

Mayank Agarwal
KL Rahul (vice-captain)
Cheteshwar Pujara
Virat Kohli (captain)
Ajinkya Rahane
Rishabh Pant (WK)
Ravichandran Ashwin
Shardul Thakur/ Hanuma Vihari/ Shreyas Iyer (competition)
Mohammed Shami
Jasprit Bumrah
Mohammed Siraj

India Playing XI vs SA: Extra batsman or seam all-rounder? Virat Kohli has difficult choice to make for Boxing Day Test

Also Read: India Playing XI vs SA: Ishant Sharma’s place on the line as Virat Kohli set to prefer Mohammed Siraj for 1st Test

📸 M🙂🙂D in the camp right now

All smiles here at Centurion 😃#TeamIndia | #SAvIND pic.twitter.com/IOaMfH6h7h

— BCCI (@BCCI) December 21, 2021

India Playing XI vs SA: Should Virat Kohli opt for a seam all-rounder?

India’s three seamers — Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami and Mohammed Siraj — have been excellent on away tours and will retain their places.
Siraj is expected to ace veteran Ishant Sharma for the place as the latter has been struggling with his form.
But considering the rain forecast in Centurion at least in the first two days, it will be assisting seamers. Since India’s top six do not bowl, it will be important to have a fourth seamer.
In Hardik Pandya’s absence, Shardul Thakur has done a good job with both in Tests.
In Australia and England tours, he returned with 7 wickets each and got wickets at difficult situations.
With the bat, he slammed two half-centuries against England in three innings while he smashed one in Australia. His batting rescued India from difficult situations.

“I think Shardul Thakur is the best choice if they go in with five bowlers as he also gives the option of a steady No.7 batter and we also have Ravichandran Ashwin. Four bowlers in this line-up are now confirmed if all fit, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Ashwin and Mohammed Siraj. I don’t think, Ishant will be considered ahead of Siraj on current form,” former chief selector MSK Prasad told PTI.

India Playing XI vs SA: Extra batsman or seam all-rounder? Virat Kohli has difficult choice to make for Boxing Day Test

India Playing XI vs SA: Should India go with an extra batsman in the 1st Test?

The decision to go with an extra batsman in Shreyas Iyer or Hanuma Vihari also has its merits.
The middle-order comprising Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli and Ajinkya Rahane have been struggling with the bat while Rishabh Pant is still not a reliable batter at No 6.
As Shreyas Iyer is fresh from a Test century, he could be tried at No 6, demoting Pant to No 7. That will strengthen India’s batting.
Hanuma Vihari at No 6 is another option. The Hyderabad batsman hasn’t got many opportunities since saving India the grace in Australia.
He has been in South Africa for the last month with India A and has scored two half-centuries.

However, as skipper Virat Kohli has emphasised on a five-bowlers template in overseas conditions, it is likely that India will go with four seamers and a spinner in Centurion. That means Hanuma Vihari will have to wait for his chance.

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