South Africa remains the only unconquered territory for the Indian team in Test cricket where they have not yet won a Test series. But given their form, both at home and away, especially with back-to-back Test series wins in Australia and tremendous performance in England as well, India can fancy their chances this time around.
India will play three Tests in South Africa with the first one beginning on Boxing Day in Centurion. The second Test will be played in Johannesburg from January 3rd and the final match is slated in Cape Town from January 11 onwards.
This is probably the Indian team’s best chance of winning a Test series in South Africa given their vulnerable batting lineup and lack of form in the bowling department.
Keeping this in mind, here is the COC Predicted Team India Playing XI for the first Test in Centurion.
With the absence of Rohit Sharma due to injury, Mayank Agarwal is expected to continue to open the innings with the stand-in vice-captain KL Rahul. Though the Indian middle order of Cheteshwar Pujara and Virat Kohli are not in the best of forms, with both of them not scoring a Test ton since 2019, expect India to continue with them.
The big question is whether the team management goes for Ajinkya Rahane or Shreyas Iyer in the XI. Iyer scored a century and a fifty in his debut Test match, while Rahane scored 39 runs in the same encounter.
Excluding either of them also gives the Indian team a chance to play an extra bowler, something that Virat Kohli prefers to do in overseas matches.
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Rishabh Pant has done exceedingly well in Australia and England, scoring centuries there, and will have an excellent chance to score one in South Africa as well. He would love the fact that the ball comes to the bat and he can play his shots.
Given that the matches will be played on the bouncy pitches of South Africa, and with the absence of Ravindra Jadeja in the squad, R Ashwin will get the preference as the spin bowling all-rounder in the XI over Jayant Yadav.
If India goes for a pacer in place of a batter, Shardul Thakur’s batting ability gives him the edge, and his ability to swing the ball and reverse the old one will get him the nod as the fourth pacer.
Mohammad Shami and Jasprit Bumrah are almost confirmed in the XI. Now the team management needs to pick between Mohammed Siraj or Ishant Sharma for the third pure pacer in the XI. Given the form and fitness, Siraj may get the go-ahead given his ability to bowl long spells.
COC Predicted Team India Playing XI for 1st Test:
KL Rahul, Mayank Agarwal, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (C), Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant (WK), R Ashwin, Shardul Thakur, Mohammad Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj
