Sunil Gavaskar has suggested a balanced Indian playing XI with three pacers and two spinners, catering to the anticipated fast-bowler-friendly Centurion pitch.
Former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar proposed a balanced Indian playing XI ahead of the highly anticipated India vs. South Africa 1st Test in Centurion. His suggested lineup, featuring three pacers and two spinners, aligns with the expected pitch conditions favoring fast bowlers. Gavaskar’s emphasis on adaptability to the conditions underlines the strategic importance of the challenging encounter.
With Rohit Sharma leading the team, India aims for a historic series win, underlining a well-balanced approach combining pace and spin, all set for the intriguing contest expected in the Centurion Test between bat and ball.
“My Playing XI is going to be very simple. The openers will be a [Yashasvi] Jaiswal and captain Rohit Sharma. Shubman Gill number three, number four [Virat] Kohli. Number five KL Rahul, number six Shreyas Iyer or five and six that can move here and there. After that, it will be Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin. And then the three fast bowlers, Mukesh Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammad Siraj,” Gavaskar said to Star Sports.
India’s Test squad prepping for the South Africa series encountered challenges as key players faced setbacks. Mohammed Shami’s ankle injury and Ruturaj Gaikwad’s finger injury led to their exclusions, denting the pace and opening departments. Earlier, Deepak Chahar withdrew from the ODIs due to family reasons, leading to squad alterations. India made adjustments by including Bengal’s Abhimanyu Eashwaran after Gaikwad’s injury.
India seeks their first Test series win in South Africa. In the previous 2021-22 tour, India won one but lost two matches. The team’s recent white-ball success hints at potential historic victory in Tests, having drawn the T20Is 1-1 and won the ODIs 2-1, reflecting high hopes for this series.
Last Updated on December 24, 2023
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