IND vs SA LIVE – India Playing XI Johanesburg Test: India have won the toss and have opted to bat: Virat Kohli is out of 2nd test due to back spasms. Instead KL Rahul is leading India and Hanuma Vihari is drafted in the XI. Follow INDIA vs South Africa LIVE Updates on InsideSport.IN
IND vs SA LIVE: Virat Kohli knocked out by injury, KL Rahul leading India, Hanuma Vihari drafted in PLAYING XI
KL Rahul: Unfortunately Virat has had an upper back spasm and hopefully he’ll recover for the next Test. It is every Indian player’s dream to captain his country. Really honoured and looking forward to this challenge. We have had a few good wins here and hopefully we’ll look to continue that. Hanuma Vihari comes in place of VIrat. Just the one change. It was a good Test at Centurion overall. We really performed well as a team and are really excited about this match.
KL Rahul will be the 34th captain for India in test cricket.
Dean Elgar: (On Kohli missing out It doesn’t really bother me, we have got a Test match to play. Two changes: Kyle Verryenne comes in for QdK and Duanne Olivier for Mulder. Losing Quinny is never ideal. He has been a big player for us. Losing any big player is never ideal. We have a lot of talent in our squad and we need to back them. There were a lot of good things you can speak about at Centurion. You need to be fair to the enviromnent. a lot of positives and good conversations for us to take out of that.
India Playing XI vs SA: Umesh Yadav in, Shardul Thakur out? – India Test skipper Virat Kohli isn’t known for changing a winning combination. India won the Centurion Test without dropping much sweat. At the Wanderers, Johannesburg, one would expect him to go with the same combination but the change in conditions is expected to guide him to include Umesh Yadav in place of Shardul Thakur as Team India aim to wrap up maiden series win in South Africa. Follow IND vs SA Live Updates on InsideSport.IN.
Virat Kohli always prefers having a seam all-rounder in the Playing XI. It gives him flexibility especially with the top-6 having no bowling pedigree. Shardul Thakur has been an ideal option with Ravichandran Ashwin also helping.
India Playing XI vs SA: Umesh Yadav likely to get a look-in at Johannesburg in place of Shardul Thakur – Follow Live Updates
However, head coach Rahul Dravid and skipper Virat Kohli could be tempted to exploit the Wanderers wicket which still has some grass on it. With Umesh Yadav regularly bowling fuller lengths with 135mph+ speed, he could be an asset ahead of Shardul Thakur, who bowled 16 overs with just two wickets. With the bat, he returned with 4 and 10 in two innings, not a great effort from an all-rounder.
India Playing XI vs SA: Why Umesh Yadav could be picked ahead of Shardul?
- The conditions at Wanderers could prompt Virat Kohli and Rahul Dravid to change strategy.
- The pitch has a lot of grass and it has been raining in Johannesburg. The moisture in the air will help the seamers. Umesh Yadav with his swing could be helpful.
- Umesh bowls at fuller length at a good pace and it could be helpful at Wanderers.
- Shardul Thakur wasn’t really successful with bat and the ball and could be shuffled.
- Having Umesh Yadav will bolster India’s wicket-takers and a genuine 4th seamer.
India Playing XI vs SA: Umesh Yadav likely to get a look-in at Johannesburg in place of Shardul Thakur – Follow Live Updates
Cannot ask for a better end to 2021! 👏 👏@28anand captures the essence and vibes in Centurion post #TeamIndia‘s historic Test win at SuperSport Park. 👌 👌 #SAvIND
Watch the full video 🎥 🔽https://t.co/49IFMY2Lxl pic.twitter.com/PnIaswqsH7
— BCCI (@BCCI) December 31, 2021
India Playing XI vs SA: Umesh Yadav likely to get a look-in at Johannesburg in place of Shardul Thakur – Follow Live Updates
Former South Africa video analyst Prasanna Agoram told TOI that the pitch in Johannesburg will help Umesh.
“While grounds like Newlands and Centurion help the shortish length of the South African pacers, the ideal Johannesburg length is fuller. That’s why India has had so much success at this venue. The lengths that Umesh bowls and the pace that he generates are absolutely ideal for the Wanderers. I will be surprised if he doesn’t play this game,” the analyst said.
India Probable Playing XI for Jo’burg Test:
- KL Rahul (VC)
- Mayank Agarwal
- Cheteshwar Pujara
- Virat Kohli (C)
- Ajinkya Rahane
- Rishabh Pant (WK)
- Ravichandran Ashwin/ Hanuma Vihari
- Umesh Yadav
- Mohammed Shami
- Jasprit Bumrah
- Mohammed Siraj
India Playing XI vs SA: Umesh Yadav likely to get a look-in at Johannesburg in place of Shardul Thakur – Follow Live Updates
India Playing XI vs SA: Will India go with a spinner in Johannesburg?
The next question is whether India will go with a spinner at all. Ravichandran Ashwin cleaned up the last two wickets in Centurion but wasn’t really effective without any help for the spinners. In Johannesburg, the same could be the case.
In 2018, India field four frontline seamers and an all-rounder in Hardik Pandya. In 2013, Ashwin did play but bowled 42 overs without any success.
- India did not have spinners in the Playing XI in 2018 and won the Test by 63 runs.
- Hardik Pandya played the role of a fifth seamer.
- In 2013, Ravi Ashwin bowled at Wanderers 42 overs without any success.
- With the amount of grass on Wanderers pitch, Ashwin is unlikely to get any assistance.
- The overcast condition and weather forecast for rain make it difficult to include a spinner.
- That could make way for Hanuma Vihari as an extra batsman at No 7 with Ashwin benched.
India Playing XI vs SA: Umesh Yadav likely to get a look-in at Johannesburg in place of Shardul Thakur – Follow Live Updates
