Published: Nov 25, 2013, 03:33 PM (IST)
Edited: Nov 25, 2013, 03:33 PM (IST)
Zaheer Khan (left) has been included in the Indian Test squad for the tour of South Africa © Getty Images
Zaheer Khan and Ambati Rayudu were in the spotlight of India’s Test and ODI squad to South Africa. Abhijit Banare analyses…
Few weeks ago there was massive uncertainty over India’s tour to South Africa. After endless negotiations, we are finally here discussing India’s 17-member Test squad and the stable One-Day International (ODI) team for the South Africa series.
The certainties and the batting power
A major part of the squad for the tour was already in place. In the batting line-up, Murali Vijay will still get a chance alongside Shikhar Dhawan. Dhawan has cemented his place as an opener at least for the next few matches. Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Cheteshwar Pujara too will be an integral part of the playing XI. While he has been carrying drinks for most of the time, Ajinkya Rahane too finds himself in the side. Rahane will be lucky to get an opportunity in the famed batting side. Mohammed Shami, Bhuvneshwar Kumar and Umesh Yadav along with Ravichandran Ashwin’s inclusion too was certain.
While the batsmen have all the skills and confidence needed to take on the World No 1 Test side, it will be interesting to see how they deal with the conditions on wickets where there’s more assistance to pacers. Someone like Kohli is expected to be unfazed with a good experience touring Australia, where the rest of the batsmen struggled as he managed to play some breezy innings.
India are yet to win a Test series in South Africa and a lot will depend on how the batsmen hold together. That has always been India’s strength.
One of the surprise inclusion in the Test squad was Ambati Rayudu featuring as a reserve batsman. With the likes of Rahane and Rayudu, India have a solid back-up in case any of their set batsmen get injured. With Rohit’s superb debut Test series, it is unlikely that the team management will fiddle with the middle-order. The No 6 or No 7 slot depends on who among Rahane and Ravindra Jadeja will make the cut in playing XI.
One can’t ignore but point out the vacant No 4 spot, which in all likelihood will be donned by Kohli, who has been in tremendous form in the limited-overs formats. While it’s too early to judge, the stylish batsman needs a big innings to reassert his position in the longest format of the game. Yet India have the resources in the batting to outdo the fiery pace of Dale Steyn and Morne Morkel.
For the wicketkeeper’s slot, there were just two contenders to act as back-up to MS Dhoni, Wriddhiman Saha and Dinesh Karthik. Saha has been preferred earlier in Tests and the selectors have chosen to keep up with the same choice. It’s highly unlikely that Saha will feature in the playing XI.
Indian bowling
Overall in the pace department, it is an attack relying on form with a mix of experience. India’s two frontline pacers Mohammed Shami and Bhuvneshwar Kumar are the least experienced, yet they have delivered the results for the team.
Zaheer Khan’s inclusion was an uncertainty. There were media reports of him being included on tour to South Africa, but the exclusion from the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) contract and the Indian Test team against West Indies did give some signals that it might be the end of his career. But the left-arm pacer is back and his experience will matter a lot.
Considering the conditions in South Africa, there were five slots in the pace department. With two already set (Bhuvneshwar and Shami), Umesh Yadav too wasn’t a difficult choice as his ability to bowl at 140 kmph-plus regularly will be an asset in those conditions. Zaheer and Ishant Sharma complete the set-up.
The erratic form of Ishant was always on the minds of the selectors but they have chosen to give him another go. Pace is going to be the most crucial aspect. The pitches are conducive to swing bowlers and India have often been found wanting in the bowling department. But it looks a balanced attack. If India go with three pacers and a spinner then the line-up in the fast bowling department is fairly clear with Zaheer, Bhuvneshwar and Shami. It’s highly unlikely that Zaheer will be taken along and not feature in the playing XI.
In the spin department, Ravichandran Ashwin was a certainty. Even though spin hasn’t been a major factor in South Africa conditions, selectors have persisted with the combo of Ashwin and Pragyan Ojha, whereas Jadeja will also play a crucial role if he features in the playing XI.
Squad for ODI series
While there was some shuffling and changes in the Test team, India’s ODI team has been fairly stable since the ICC Champions Trophy 2013 win in June. Except for Ambati Rayudu, the limited-overs side looks stable and as formidable as it has been in recent times.
India’s ODI squad:
MS Dhoni (c &wk), Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Virat Kohli, Yuvraj Singh, Suresh Raina, Ravindra Jadeja, Ravichandran Ashwin, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Ambati Rayudu, Mohit Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Amit Mishra, Ajinkya Rahane.
India’s Test squad:
MS Dhoni (c & wk), Virat Kohli, Shikhar Dhawan, Rohit Sharma, Ajinkya Rahane, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Mohammed Shami, Zaheer Khan, Ambati Rayudu, Murali Vijay, Cheteshwar Pujara, Umesh Yadav, Wriddhiman Saha, Pragyan Ojha, Ishant Sharma.
(Abhijit Banare is a reporter at CricketCountry. He is an avid quizzer and loves to analyse and dig out interesting facts which allows him to learn something new every day. Apart from cricket he also likes to keep a sharp eye on Indian politics, and can be followed on Twitter and blog)
