Indian cricket team will take on South Africa in the first Test match on Sunday (December 26). They are looking to win their first-ever Test series in South Africa; having won only three Test matches till now.

Before the team could display their best cricket on the field, the management will have to get the playing eleven right to boost their winning chances. They have plenty of options for different spots which only leads to a dilemma.

Former India cricketer Wasim Jaffer tried to get the most effective set of players for the first Test match. He named KL Rahul and Mayank Agarwal for the opening position with Cheteshwar Pujara at number 3.

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Pujara has struggled to get runs this year and Ajinkya Rahane's bat is also silent with only two half-centuries in 21 innings of 2021. But Jaffer is going ahead with Rahane for the first Test.

Speaking to ESPNcricinfo, Jaffer said, “There has been a lot of debate about Ajinkya Rahane. Whether he should play, whether he should not play?  There’s Hanuma Vihari waiting in the benches. In my opinion, however, he should play as he has been there and has even done well.”

The ex-cricketer named three pacers in his eleven and the off-spinner R Ashwin for the bowling attack. Mohammad Shami, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj found a spot, and Ishant Sharma missed out.

Wasim Jaffer’s India’s playing XI : Mayank Agarwal, KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (c), Ajinkya Rahane, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj.

(With ESPNCricinfo Inputs)