India’s Strongest Playing XI for the South Africa Test Series
Team India is set to take on South Africa in their second assignment of the 2023-25 World Test Championship cycle. With the first Test starting on Boxing Day, Rohit Sharma and his team will be determined to go one step further after losing in the final of consecutive World Test Championship editions.
India’s biggest challenge will be in South Africa, where they have never won a Test series. However, they will have a near full-strength squad to choose from, with Rishabh Pant being the only notable absentee. Mohammed Shami is reportedly on track to recover in time for the series.
India’s Test squad for the South Africa series includes Rohit Sharma (c), Shubman Gill, Yashasvi Jaiswal, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Ishan Kishan (wk), KL Rahul (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Shardul Thakur, Mohammed Siraj, Mukesh Kumar, Mohammed Shami (subject to fitness), Jasprit Bumrah (vc), and Prasidh Krishna.
Here’s India’s strongest playing XI for the upcoming Test series against South Africa:
- Rohit Sharma
- Yashasvi Jaiswal
- Shubman Gill
- Virat Kohli
- Shreyas Iyer
- KL Rahul (wk)
- Ravindra Jadeja
- Ravichandran Ashwin
- Mohammed Siraj
- Jasprit Bumrah
- Mohammed Shami (subject to fitness)
Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal, who opened the batting in India’s last series against West Indies, performed exceptionally well. Despite the return of KL Rahul, Rohit and Jaiswal might be the best opening pair for India in South Africa.
Shubman Gill could slot in at No. 3, with Kohli and Shreyas following him in the batting order. KL Rahul, who has proven himself as a reliable wicket-keeper in overseas conditions, should be handed the gloves. Ravindra Jadeja, India’s most important player in Test cricket, will play a crucial role with both bat and ball.
The team management will have to make a decision regarding the No. 8 spot. While leaving out Ravichandran Ashwin has been a strategy in the past, his match-winning abilities suggest that he shouldn’t be dropped. The bowling attack should consist of Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, and Mohammed Siraj, with Prasidh Krishna as a replacement if Shami is unavailable.
Mukesh Kumar, although a strong Test format player, should be behind the rest in the pecking order.
India’s strongest playing XI for the South Africa Test series will provide a balanced and formidable lineup to take on the challenge in the Rainbow Nation.
Also read – Rohit Sharma’s Fitness and Potential Role in the T20 Cricket World Cup
