IND vs SA: Gautam Gambhir, Simon Doull Pick India XI For 1st Test vs South Africa

Former Indian cricketer Gautam Gambhir has picked his Team India XI for the first Test against South Africa. The Boxing Day Test match between the teams is set to be played at the Supersport Park in Centurion from the 26th of December.

Gautam Gambhir backed Rohit Sharma and Yashasvi Jaiswal to open the innings for the team in the Centurion Test. Both have been in fine form in Test cricket of late and will be crucial for the team in both games.

Rohit Sharma has been exceptional as an opener in the Test and it will be a great Test for him in South Africa conditions. Jaiswal on the other hand will be playing his first Test in such conditions. Opening the batting no doubt has been challenging and the duo will be up for it.

At No.3, Gautam Gambhir picked Shubman Gill. The young batter replaced Cheteshwar Pujara at the position in the team and he will be eager to make a statement. He didn’t have a great outing in the West Indies at the same position and therefore the series will be extremely crucial for him.

Virat Kohli will be batting at No.4 in the Test series and Gautam Gambhir didn’t doubt that too. The right-hander has a great record in South Africa and has an average of over 50. He needs to have a great series if India have to win the series.

At No.5 and No.6, Gautam Gambhir backed Shreyas Iyer and KL Rahul to play. The batters will hold a key for the team in the middle order and a lot would be reliant on them. The duo will be crucial for the team.

Gautam Gambhir went with a combination of one spinner and was confused about who to play between Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin. He backed Shardul to be the seam-bowling all-rounder in the team. Thakur in the overseas conditions has been exceptional with both bat and ball.

Gautam Gambhir believes that India will give debut cap to Prasidh Krishna and he will be the pacer in the team alongside Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj. The fast bowlers no doubt will be crucial for the side in those South African conditions.

Here is Gautam Gambhir’s playing 11 for the Indian team against South Africa

Rohit Sharma (c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul, Ravindra Jadeja/ R Ashwin, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Prasidh Krishna, Mohammed Siraj

IND vs SA: Simon Doull picks his Indian XI for the Boxing Day Test; names a different team from Gautam Gambhir

Former New Zealand cricketer Simon Doull also named his Indian XI for the first Test against South Africa. His Top 6 were the same as that of Gautam Gambhir. But he feels that India will play both the spinners in Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin.

He also backed Shardul Thakur to be the third pacer in the team, omitting Mukesh Kumar and Prasidh Krishna. The other two pacers in his team are Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj.

Here’s Simon Doull’s playing 11 for the Indian team against South Africa

Rohit Sharma (c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, KL Rahul, Shreyas Iyer, Ravindra Jadeja, R Ashwin, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj.