- By Ankit Bisht
- Mon, 01 Jan 2024 07:01 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
IND vs SA 2nd Test: India slumped in the first Test against South Africa by an innings and 32 runs at SuperSport Park in Centurion which triggered calls for change in the playing 11 for the second and final Test of the series.
India opted for the four pacers and one spinner in the playing 11 for the series opener. Jasprit Bumrah led the pace bowling department and was supported by Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna and Shardul Thakur while Ravichandran Ashwin featured as sole spinner.
Apart from Bumrah, no other bowler was able to step up to the occasion as South Africa posted 408 in first innings in reply to India's 245 total in first innings.
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India pace bowling looked toothless as Bumrah did get much support from his partners to demolish hosts batting line-up. For the second Test, former India captain Sunil Gavaskar predicted that Rohit Sharma-led side should go for Ravindra Jadeja and Mukesh Sharma in place of Ashwin and Krishna.
"My Playing XI would be not too many changes. Ravindra Jadeja, once he is fit, will probably walk back into the team at the expense of Ravichandran Ashwin. That's what it is looking to be because Ravichandran Ashwin was hardly used in the previous game. There could be a change in the new ball bowling too with Mukhesh Kumar coming in place of Prasidh Krishna," Sunil Gavaskar told Star Sports.
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The veteran batter further blamed India's three-day annihiliation to lack of tour matches on the current tour.
"The reasons are straightforward - you didn't play any matches here. If you straightaway play Test matches, it doesn't work out. Yes, you sent the India A team. The India A team should actually come before the tour," Gavaskar said.
"You need to play practice matches after coming here. Intra-squad is a joke because would your fast bowlers bowl extremely fast to your batters, would they bowl bouncers, as they would be scared about injuring their batters," he added.
India will take on South Africa in the second and final Test of the series to avoid white-wash at Newlands in Cape Town on Wednesday, Janaury 3.