The highly anticipated 4-match Mahatma Gandhi-Nelson Mandela Test series between India and South Africa begins in Mohali on Thursday. We shall be covering this important series extensively here on IndiaBet.org. But first, let’s quickly analyze the Indian team and run through the all the players of the squad.
Virat Kohli (capt) – Virat is a young captain and he has shown in his short stint so far that he is much more aggressive than M S Dhoni has ever been. Some of Virat’s tactics involve playing with 5 bowlers, including two genuine fast bowlers. This is unlike Dhoni, who preferred to play only four bowlers and medium pacers at that. Virat’s batting has come back to life in the ODI series against South Africa. His 138 in the fourth ODI was a magnificent innings. He will be tested against the likes of Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel.
KL Rahul – Rahul is a talented young batsman making his way in international cricket. He faces a strong competition for the opening spot from his three seniors in the side, M Vijay, Shikhar Dhawan and Cheteshwar Pujara. He has the knack of scoring important hundreds which should serve him well.
M Vijay – Vijay has been India’s most consistent batsman in Test cricket for the past couple of years and of the four batsmen fighting for the two opening slots, only he is certain to start.
Shikhar Dhawan – Shikhar is in woeful form and it is highly unlikely that he will feature in this series at all. It’s a pity because there was a time when he showed a lot of promise.
Cheteshwar Pujara – Pujara will be asked to play in the unfamiliar opening batsman’s role rather than his favorite no. 3 position so that Rohit Sharma can feature in the side. This is a pity and a waste of one of India’s best Test batsman, but that’s the way it goes.
Ajinkya Rahane – Ajinkya Rahane may be India’s most reliable batsman, but he is treated like a football like the Indian team management, sent up and down the order – a role which he seems to have accepted without complaint. Rahane is a team man to the core, but it’s a shame that he has to be put through a trial by fire every time he plays for India while lesser players – you know who we are talking about here – get away with doing precious little.
Rohit Sharma – Rohit Sharma, the darling of the Indian team management. The player who gets to play for India regardless of performance, the undroppable one. Well, Indian cricket fans hate the sight of Rohit Sharma and detest the fact that he has kept out Pujara – undeniably the better Test batsman of the two – out of the team. Sharma will play at no. 5 and keep another talented batsman out. There’s nothing anyone can do about that.
Wriddhiman Saha – Indian cricket has been spoiled to have someone like Dhoni, a wicketkeeper who bats like a top order batsman playing for them for almost 10 years. With Dhoni gone, we are back to mediocre players like Saha
Ravindra Jadeja – Jadeja has had a good spell in the Ranji Trophy since being removed from the Indian team. It remains to be seen if he continues his good form against the South Africans.
Amit Mishra – Mishra is a decent leg spinner, but there’s a police case against him in Bangalore for attacking a woman. It remains to be seen if he will be too distracted to perform. We can’t have a cricketer arrested in the middle of a Test match – but it can happen!
Bhuvneshwar Kumar – Bhavneshwar Kumar was taken for 106 runs in 1o overs by the South African batsman in Mumbai. No doubt his confidence will be real low in the Test series after such a mauling.
R Ashwin – Ashwin is India’s #1 bowler and a lot depends on how her performs. When Ashwin bowls well, India usually win, as simple as that. But he is coming back from an injury and so has to be careful.
Umesh Yadav – Yadav is a genuine fast bowler and he will certainly share the new ball with Ishant Sharma. He should test the South Africans with his pace.
Stuart Binny – Why is he in the Indian team again? Silly question. His dad is a part of the selection committee. Binny is arguably the worst player ever to play for India.
Varun Aaron – Varun bowls with a lot of pace, but he is unlikely to feature in the first Test at least, as his place will be taken by Umesh Yadav.
Ishant Sharma – Ishant is India’s strike bowler. He will have to be at his best against South Africa and control his temper as well. We expect to see a plenty of pace from him.
