Predicted India XI for the First Test
Virat Kohli will be hoping to lead the Indian squad to another Test series victory‘Mushkil hain, mazaa ayega’ was the broadcasters’ tagline for this high profile Freedom series between two cricketing powerhouses. South Africa has won both the T20 and the ODI series and the game tally stands at 5-2 in South Africa’s favour.That means the stakes are high as India play for pride. They cannot afford to lose the Test series and that ignominy isn’t really a far-fetched option given how South Africa have answers for everything India has thrown at them so far, from the ramparts of their fortress.India will be playing under a different captain and that could be an invigorating change especially considering Virat Kohli’s last outing as captain saw India win a rare away series in Sri Lanka, that too coming back from a deficit.India sprung back twice even during the ODI series which means, the fight hasn’t left them. However, they are simply stated, pitted against a better team if you compare man to man. We take a look at India’s probable XI which is not India’s first choice considering Ishant Sharma will be serving a ban.That is a big loss on a Mohali wicket which generally has good carry and offers assistance for the seam bowlers. The stakes are also high because one of the two teams is almost invincible at home and the other hasn’t lost in nearly a decade on the road.
#11 Bhuvneshwar Kumar
Had Ganguly been skipper, there was a good chance he would pick Binny as the second new ball bowler almost scoffing over Indian tracks and their unfriendliness to pacers. On other days, he might have taken the risk of unleashing both Aaron and Yadav’s pace.
But, Kohli will probably go for the security of Bhuvneshwar Kumar’s steadiness over Aaron’s unpredictability. Kumar hasn’t had any Test caps in a long time, but he seems to have picked up some pace, if the ODI numbers are to be believed.
The worry though is that he wasn’t swinging the ball. One wonders if he can swing the red cherry. India will desperately want it from him while also keeping one end tight when the attacking spinners are bowling. Kumar would put more fight in the tail too, given his batting capability.