Former India captain Sunil Gavaskar has unveiled his choice of India’s playing XI for the upcoming first Test against South Africa which will begin on December 26 in Centurion. The second Test of the series will be played in Cape Town from January 3rd.
Top India players will return to the line-up after their break from international cricket. The likes of Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, and Jasprit Bumrah have not played at the top level since India lost their World Cup 2023 Final against Australia.
In this Test series, India will be without Mohammad Shami, who has been ruled out owing to fitness issues. Shami did not recover in time after injuring his ankle during the World Cup 2023. India has also made two changes to its squad, with KS Bharat and Abhimanyu Easwaran replacing Ishan Kishan and Ruturaj Gaikwad.
India is yet to win a Test series in South Africa since their first visit in 1992. India had won its first Test in South Africa in 2006. The last time India had played a Test series here, they lost 1-2 despite winning the first Test match.
Legendary India batter Sunil Gavaskar wants India to play two spinners in their playing XI despite the conditions at Centurion. Gavaskar wants the veteran spin bowling pair of Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin to be named in the Indian side for the first Test match.
Gavaskar, in a conversation on Star Sports, said that India needs to go with two spinners and Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, and Mukesh Kumar as three pacers.
“My playing XI is gonna be very simple. The openers will be Yashasvi Jaiswal and Rohit Sharma - the captain. No.3 Shubman Gill, No.4 - Kohli, No. 5 KL Rahul, and No.6 Shreyas Iyer. 5 and 6 can move, and after that will be Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin,” Gavaskar told Star Sports.
“Then I'll have three fast bowlers - Mukesh Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj,” Gavaskar added.
India can pick between Mukesh and Prasidh Krishna, who took a hat-trick in his five-wicket haul in the India A match.
Sunil Gavaskar’s India XI for 1st Test:
Rohit Sharma, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Mukesh Kumar, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj
