Team India will have some selection calls ahead of the first Test against South Africa from Sunday, December 26 at Centurion’s SuperSport Park. Amidst Ajinkya Rahane’s struggle in Test cricket, Shreyas Iyer has emerged as the potential successor to No. 5th, after scoring a century and half-century on his Test debut against New Zealand in Kanpur last month. Hanuma Vihari is another player who could be of interest to the management considering India’s batting issues in the middle order.
In the absence of injured Rohit Sharma and Shubman Gill, Mayank Agarwal and KL Rahul are likely to open the innings.
India, led by Virat Kohli, have a strong bowling line-up but it is not known what combination the team will go for in the Boxing Day Test.
Star pacers Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Shami are likely to return to the playing XI after being rested from the home series against the Kiwis.
As far as the third pacer is concerned, either Ishant Sharma, Mohammad Siraj or Umesh Yadav could get a chance.
Considering the pace-friendly pitches in South Africa, Ravichandran Ashwin is likely to be the only spinner as the team can go for four fast bowlers in the playing XI.
Since India have never won a Test series in South Africa, Virat and the management are likely to launch an all-out attack to capture the last boundary.
On the other hand, South Africa will miss star pacer Enrique Nortje, who was ruled out of the three-match Test series after failing to recover from a persistent hip injury.
In Nortje’s absence, the onus will be on the pair of Kagiso Rabada and Lungi Ngidi to trouble the Indian batting line-up.
The hosts have a few holes to fill in a less proven batting order, with two players in their top six yet to score Test centuries.
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Captain Dean Elgar, Temba Bavuma and veteran wicketkeeper-batsman Quinton de Kock will also be tested by the Indian fast bowlers, who had exceptional performances in Australia and England recently.
For the record, South Africa claim a phenomenal record at SuperSport Park in Centurion, having won 21 of 26 Tests at the venue, losing only twice.
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