Former Indian batting coach Abhishek Nayar has picked India’s playing XI for the opening Test match against South Africa. Nayar didn’t pick the spin duo of Kuldeep Yadav and Washington Sundar. Yadav had scalped 12 wickets in two Test matches against the West Indies but could only take a solitary wicket in the second unofficial Test match against South Africa A.
The former Indian batter picked Ravindra Jadeja and Axar Patel as the two spinners in India’s final XI. Nayar said he would persist with Sai Sudharsan at one down and would want to play Dhruv Jurel at his ideal position. Jurel recently scored twin centuries in the second unofficial Test against South Africa A.
“I would want to if you have persisted with someone for so long. Dhruv Jurel has been fantastic, got a hundred against the West Indies, two back-to-back hundreds now playing for India A vs South Africa A, so terrific, but I want to position him in a place where he can succeed,” the former India assistant coach said on Star Sports.
“Ravindra Jadeja at No. 6. For me, No. 7 in these conditions, I would look for a Dhruv Jurel because he is in that sort of form. I would want him to be part of the setup. Unfortunately, everyone is going to be like damn, a Kuldeep may have to miss out in this setup for me,” he added.
Nayar suggested a seam-bowling all-rounder like Nitish Kumar Reddy would be more helpful than Kuldeep Yadav on the Eden Gardens pitch.
“In these conditions, considering how challenging it is going to be for the batters, I would want that extra surety with a batter and a seamer. So Nitish Reddy comes in and then you have my three seamers in that team. That’s the kind of setup I would go for,” he observed.
The former Mumbai batter predicted that India would win in Kolkata, whereas he feels the second Test match at Guwahati will end in a draw.
“I would go 1-0 to India, only because of the daylight problem. Shorter days, they are going to the northeast, and it’s winter. I feel South Africa have a good team. I will give one a draw. Guwahati – draw, Eden Gardens – India will win,” he said
The opening Test match between India and South Africa will be played at Eden Gardens, Kolkata, from November 14 onwards.
