SA vs IND 2018: Post Loss, India's Benched Players Sweat it Out in Nets at Newlands

Tuesday (January 8) would have been the fifth day of the just-concluded first Test between India and South Africa had 18 wickets not fallen on the penultimate day of the game.

South Africa had started the proceedings with the bat on 65 for two and had gone on to lose their last eight wickets for just 65 runs. India, in reply, were all out for a mere 135 while chasing 208.

But while the Indian team rarely practices the very next day after a heavy defeat, four players from the squad packed their bags and went straight to the Newlands ground for a net session. The players who opted for the session were those who didn’t play the first Test – KL Rahul, Ajinkya Rahane, Parthiv Patel and Ishant Sharma.

The latest move more or less suggests the visitors are set to tinker with their playing eleven for the upcoming Test following the crushing loss in Cape Town.

India’s strategy, so far, has raised a lot of eyebrows. After arriving in the African country on December 28, just a week before the first Test, the team-management cancelled the scheduled practise games and instead opted for warm-ups. Even on January 4, the day before the Test started, the team did not train and instead sent batting coach Sanjay Bangar to have a look at the pitch and address the pre-match press conference, which is usually done by the skipper of a team.

But so far, India’s ploy has looked far from impressive. The team suffered batting collapses in both the innings of the first Test and ended up losing the game by 72 runs while chasing 208.

Well, it seems the visitors are now looking to implement the traditional ways to bounce back from the thumping defeat, as the benched players gave a glimpse of what to expect from the team in the coming days. The whole team is likely to hit the nets hard once the players recover from the fatigue.

Post game day and back to the grind #TeamIndia pic.twitter.com/Un22UU4DMb

— BCCI (@BCCI) January 9, 2018

The net session is also a big indication the benched players can make it to the playing eleven in the next game. Rahane, one of India’s best overseas performers in the last few years, was looking like a guaranteed starter but the team preferred Rohit Sharma ahead of him on the basis of current form.

KL Rahul was also looking set to open the innings after Shikhar Dhawan had injured his ankle but he recovered in time and India opted for the left-right combination.

Parthiv Patel, on the other hand, can also get a chance considering the way Wriddhiman Saha struggled on the bouncy Newlands track.

However, Ishant Sharma’s chances of playing the next Test is looking bleak at the moment. India’s pacers including debutant Jasprit Bumrah looked impressive which might prompt the team management to play the next game with the same combination.

The second Test starts from January 13 in Centurion.

Here is the news feed:

South Africa Vs India: Three things India need to rectify before Centurion Test

South Africa Vs India: Faf du Plessis heaps praise on powerful Dale Steyn

Follow India’s tour to South Africa here: South Africa Vs India – 2018

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