Eyeonsa,indiato testcombinations
India a draw away from equalling Australia, England’s streak of Test series wins
In keeping with India’s forward planning, forced due to lack of time to build-up for the pacefriendly conditions in South Africa, the Ferozeshah Kotla too has a good sprinkling of grass.
However, even lively pitches in the past have slowed down, and it remains to be seen if the track will play differently this time.
The first call the team management will need to take will be on whether Shikhar Dhawan will return to the side after missing the second Test in Nagpur for personal reasons. With Murali Vijay, looking likely to play after scoring a century on his return, KL Rahul could sit out.
However, if South Africa are the target, technically Vijay and Rahul would appear first choice, though Dhawan’s aggression can come in handy if pitch conditions
are more benign. With Rahul having twice been bowled between bat and pad in this series, he will be eager to get a big knock before facing the Proteas attack.
Letting Ajinkya Rahane find his touch will also be key. The spine of the batting while playing abroad, he was out for four and two in the first two Tests.
While there are options in bowling too, it remains to be seen whether the management decides to field what it sees as the ideal combination to start the South Africa series.
One man who looks set to play is Mohd Shami. The pacer’s form and fitness will be vital if India are to push for their first series victory against the Proteas. Shami, who sat out the Nagpur game due to a hip niggle, had a long bowling stint.
Umesh Yadav, searching for his best rhythm after a superb last season, could sit out if Shami and Ishant Sharma are chosen.
The other call will be on whether to summon Chinaman bowler Kuldeep Yadav to pair with R Ashwin instead of Ravindra Jadeja.
“Whatever the team management does, we are all equipped and looking to contribute. I don’t know how they are going to play around with the team…we are all ready to do it for the team,” said Vijay.
SELECTION HEADACHE However, the Indian team management have a tough call to make as Vijay, who missed the Sri Lanka tour following a wrist surgery, struck a century on his comeback in the second
Test win in
Nagpur.
GOOD EQUATION
“We three are very good friends off the field, so it makes it much easier. Definitely it will (shuffling) unsettle the opener who is playing regularly. (But) we three have a good rapport outside the field. It will help us big time in the series coming ahead, and in the future as well. We three are in good form,” he told the pre-match news conference.
The key to bonding was not letting any tension build in the dressing room.
“Make it easier, make it lighter, make it more fun, talk about it openly, and chat over it, rather than keeping it to yourself and make the other person feel it,” Vijay summed it up.