India vs South Africa 2019: India's 15-Member Probable Squad For The Test Series

Team India made a solid start in the ICC World Test Championship beating West Indies 2-0 in the recently-concluded Test series. They will look to consolidate their position at the top when they play South Africa in the three-match series starting from October 2.

The top-ranked Test team produced a thorough effort throughout the series. The bowlers backed the hardwork put in the by the batsmen in both the Test. Skipper Virat Kohli will be very proud of his boys how they have set the tone for the World Test Championship. Moreover, Kohli also became the most successful Indian Test captain with 28 wins.

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While there were a number of positive for team India, a few cricketers failed to stand up and deliver goods for their side. The selection panel headed MSK Prasad is likely to make some changes to the squad for the Test series.

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Here is the 15-member probable squad for team India for the upcoming three-match Test series against South Africa starting from October 2:

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Mayank Agarwal

Mayank Agarwal has made full use of the opportunity which came his way during the series against Australia in 2018. He has shown the grit and passion to be successful in the longer format of the game. The Karnataka-born cricketer made into the team on the back of consistent outing in the domestic cricket.

Agarwal had an average outing in the West Indies series as he struggled to convert the starts to big knock. The young batsman will hope to bat long against South Africa and give India good starts.

Shubman Gill

Shubman Gill is one of the promising talents in the country right now. He has been in outstanding form playing for India A across the globe. Many have touted the young cricketer to be in the squad across the formats.

With KL Rahul struggling to put runs on the board, Gill is one of the frontrunners to take up the spot. The cricketer from Punjab will be keen to make full use of the opportunity if any come his way in the upcoming three-match Test series against South Africa.

Rohit Sharma

Rohit Sharma made a comeback to the Test side after one year during the series against West Indies. However, he didn’t get any game in the two-match series where India scripted a convincing whitewash to start the World Test Championship in an emphatic manner.

The swashbuckling batsman will be keen for an opportunity to showcase his talents in red-ball cricket. Rohit has time and again struggled to perform consistently in Tests and will hope to deliver the goods for his country.

Cheteshwar Pujara

Cheteshwar Pujara had a rare failure in the series against West Indies. He struggled to put runs on the board in the Caribbean Islands which put immense pressure on the middle-order. Pujara is the backbone of India’s batting in the five-day format of the game.

The cricketer from Saurashtra will hope to bounce back soon and lead India’s batting. Pujara has tons of experience playing in these conditions and the management will hope him to buckle up and deliver.

Virat Kohli

Virat Kohli has lost his numero uno position in the latest ICC Test rankings. The India skipper had an average return from the tour and will be desperate to get back his place from Steve Smith when the series against South Africa begin from October 2.

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Besides, Kohli has outstanding when it comes to leading the side. He recently became India’s most successful Test skipper leapfrogging MS Dhoni in the chart.

Ajinkya Rahane

Ajinkya Rahane had a great outing in the two-match series against West Indies. scored runs when the chips were down for India to bail his side from danger in the Caribbean Island.

Rahane registered a century and two crucial fifties and played significant parts in both the Test matches. The team India vice-captain will have to keep up the excellent work and put his best foot forward against a tougher opponent – South Africa.

Hanuma Vihari

The introduction of Hanuma Vihari in the Test team has strengthened India’s middle-order. He has done a spectacular job scoring two fifties and a century against West Indies and shunned all his critics.

The middle-order batsman finished as the highest run-scorer with 289 runs. Vihari has shown the determination and patience needed to succeed in the Test circuit. The real challenge will begin now as Vihari will play his first Test at home when India play South Africa in the three-match series.

KS Bharat

Srikar Bharat has been one of the most consistent cricketers in the domestic circuit in the last one year, His outing with India A has also been spectacular as he has scored runs with the bat every time he stepped out. Besides, he is very much safe with the gloves on.

After naming the West Indies squad, chief selectors MSK Prasad said that KS Bharat is close to selection and with Rishabh Pant failing to step up once again, the young Andhra cricketer is likely to get the breakthrough.

Wriddhiman Saha

Wriddhiman Saha has been out of the Test side owing to injuries for almost 18 months. He returned to the squad for the series against West Indies but had to sit out. Rishabh Pant made a mark of himself with centuries in England and Australia to get a nod ahead.

With Pant struggling to put runs with the bat, it will be a perfect opportunity for Saha to reclaim his spot back against South Africa when the series commences from October 2.

Ravichandran Ashwin

Ravichandran Ashwin will be desperate to get going after failing to make it to the playing XI against West Indies. The off-spinner has been India’s number one choice when it comes to playing in the country and skipper Virat Kohli will resort back to the main spinner.

Ashwin has a rich experience of playing on Indian wickets and the management will depend on him to deliver against the Proteas.

Ravindra Jadeja

Ravindra Jadeja is impressing with his all-round abilities and is proving why he is so highly-rated as an all-rounder. He did a good against West Indies and his maturity with the bat in the lower-order has been an advantage for India.

Besides, Jadeja is more than handy with the ball when it comes to home conditions. He partnership with Ravichandran Ashwin is subcontinent conditions are lethal and India will hope for a replication of the same.

Kuldeep Yadav

Kuldeep Yadav has struggled to tear into the Test team in the presence of Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin. He will have to wait for an opportunity to showcase his skills.

Meanwhile, Kuldeep’s performance has gone down badly after the IPL. He needs to work harder on his bowling and make full use of the chance if any comes his way against South Africa. Meanwhile, he has a good record against South Africa in the longer-format of the game.

Bhuvneshwar Kumar

It will be a great opportunity for Bhuvneshwar Kumar to make his way into the Test team in the absence of Mohammed Shami. Kumar has been out of the Test for quite some time now and will look to reclaim his spot back.

The fast bowler from Uttar Pradesh knows the home conditions well and with the ability to reverse the ball, he can be a trump card for Virat Kohli in the upcoming three-match Test series.

Ishant Sharma

The huge plus-point for Ishant Sharma has been his batting in the last series against West Indies where India script a convincing win. Sharma registered his maiden fifty which will only strengthen India’s middle-order.

Besides, Ishant is an experienced customer with the ball and now these conditions pretty well. He will have to step up being the senior-most cricketer in the bowling ranks. He will be up with some top-class South African batsmen who won’t let go of things easily.

Jasprit Bumrah

Jasprit Bumrah single-handedly bulldozed West Indies’ batting in both the Test matches. Bumrah returned with 13 wickets in the series including two fifers and a hat-trick. He became the third Indian bowler to scale a hat-trick after Harbhajan Singh and Irfan Pathan.

Since making his debut in 2018, Bumrah has gone from strength to strength. He will have to be at his personal best once again as India will look to consolidate their top position in the ICC World Test Championship.