Indian team will play two Tests against South Africa on their upcoming tour of the rainbow nation. India has never won a Test series in South Africa and this might be their golden chance to do so.
The BCCI selectors have chosen a very good squad for the South Africa Tests under the captaincy of Rohit Sharma. However, there is an interesting choice for the team management to make as to who will keep wickets in the Test series.
India has the options of Ishan Kishan, who kept wickets in West Indies Tests and KL Rahul, who has never played a Test as a full-time keeper. The last time he kept in Tests was in 2015 in Sri Lanka, when Wriddhiman Saha got injured and he stepped in.
Ishan Kishan replaced KS Bharat as the first-choice keeper in absence of Rishabh Pant. Bharat’s keeping and batting, both didn’t impress the selectors despite playing 5 Tests against Australia this year including the final of WTC 2023.
Veteran India spinner Harbhajan Singh has chosen KL Rahul to keep wickets for India in Tests against South Africa. Rahul impressed one and all with his keeping in the recent ICC World Cup 2023. However, he has not played a Test since appearing in Delhi match against Australia.
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“I want to see KL Rahul keep wickets in South Africa. I don’t think he has a lot of interest in wicketkeeping, but he did it when he had to for the team. It could be possible that Ishan Kishan is the designated wicketkeeper and Rahul plays as a pure batter. If I had to choose one, I would go with Rahul,” Harbhajan Singh told Sports Tak.
Harbhajan Singh went on to say that India will need to play well with the bat in order to win the Test series. India is aiming for their first-ever Test series victory in South Africa. According to Harbhajan Singh, while India has a decent opportunity of making history, the batters must stand up to make it happen.
“India will have to bat well. If we manage to bat well on those pitches, this is our best chance to win in South Africa because our bowling is very good. Mohammed Shami is in great form, then we have Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj.
I don’t know why Umesh Yadav wasn’t picked in the squad. South Africa are a good team, but they aren’t as dominating as they used to be. If India have to win, it will be crucial to score at least 350 runs in the first innings,” said Harbhajan Singh.
The first Test will be played in Centurion from December 26. Before that the two teams play 3 T20Is and 3 ODIs.
