IND vs SA Tests: India Slight Favourites, but South Africa Poised for a Tight Test Battle

India and South Africa have been preparing extremely well for this Test match series. Both  teams had an A-team series aligned just before the main series, and that has worked out  very well. A number of the players who will be involved in this Test series have already been  playing competitive cricket in preparation, and that level of readiness is an important  advantage for both teams. For India, however, a few contentious issues remain,  particularly around the number three position. 

I firmly believe that Sai Sudharsan is the best option at number three. I hope India back him  and give him the time and support he needs. The top two—Yashasvi Jaiswal and KL Rahul— look settled, and Sudharsan, for me, is the long-term answer at one-down. With Shubman  Gill now changing his batting position and also leading the side with great aplomb, India  need stability around him. Sudharsan, in my view, is someone who will shine if he is  backed. He has had a middling start to Test cricket so far, but that is not unusual. Many  young batters experience that phase when they are starting out at this level, and it should  not be held against him. I would continue with him at number three. 

I also feel Dhruv Jurel should play. There is a bit of debate around his place—whether he  should be in the XI, or whether Nitish Kumar Reddy fits better into the late middle order— but when you look at selection, there are a couple of guiding principles. One, you always  keep an eye on the future and the age profile of the side. Two, you rely on your instincts as  

a selector about who might go on to serve the team well over many years. And three, you  reward performances. It sounds obvious, but Jurel has produced significant performances  and deserves selection on that basis. I would not place him in the top three, but around  number six feels right. 

For me, Rishabh Pant should bat at five. I have said for a long time that Pant should be in  the top four or five and not keep wicket. In that case, Jurel could take the gloves and Pant  could play purely as a batter at five. Ultimately, the selectors will decide how to balance  the XI, but this looks a reasonable and balanced option. 

India’s bowling combination will depend heavily on the surface. There is some talk that the  pitch might be dry and lacking grass, but even if that is the case or not, India’s strength  remains their spin. I would be surprised if they do not play Kuldeep. Although he was not  particularly impressive in the A-team series, a combination of Jadeja, Kuldeep and perhaps  Washington Sundar seems likely. That would leave Bumrah and Siraj as the seamers. 

However, the final combination will ultimately depend on the pitch because that will be  absolutely crucial for India. 

They are coming up against a very strong side who are full of confidence and have just had  a good series in Pakistan. But when I compare the two teams, I feel India have a slightly  better batting line-up, a slightly better spin attack, and an equally strong—if not marginally  better—seam attack. And that is saying something even when considering someone like  Kagiso Rabada, who is outstanding. India, for me, hold slight advantages in all  departments. 

What they need, however, is the right type of pitch: a surface that starts good and slowly  deteriorates. Not a minefield, but a pitch that allows their batters to score substantial runs  and brings their spinners into the game later. The last time against New Zealand they got a  little outgunned, but this Indian side is now more well-balanced. If they get the right  surfaces, they should be in an excellent position. 

Reverse swing could also be a factor if the pitch is dry and offers little grass. That does not  necessarily suit one team more than the other. Bumrah and Siraj are more than capable  exponents of reverse swing, and Rabada and possibly Marco Jansen can also exploit it very  well. If it were up to me, I would play both Jansen and Rabada for South Africa. 

A few Indian players, including skipper Shubman Gill, will need to adjust quickly after going  from Indian conditions to Australia and back to India. That adjustment period might take a  little time, but overall India still appear to be in a strong position, provided the pitch suits  their strengths. 

As for South Africa, this series arrives at a very good time for them. They have just come  from Pakistan, where they levelled the series 1-1 with a win in the final match. Their A-team  has also been playing in India. They have a spin attack that deserves serious respect:  Keshav Maharaj, Senuran Muthusamy and Simon Harmer. All three are excellent, highly  experienced spinners, and Harmer in particular could play a crucial role, especially against  India’s top order which may feature two or three left-handers. His off-spin will be vital early  in the innings. Maharaj continues to improve, and Muthusamy gives them a strong third  spin option. It is possible South Africa could field all three. 

Their batting is solid and has been for years. They are world champions and have  benefitted enormously from the IPL. Aiden Markram may have missed out a bit in Pakistan,  but Tony de Zorzi has been scoring heavily in these conditions. This will be a very 

interesting and competitive series. India start as slight favourites because of home  conditions, but South Africa should not be discounted at all. 

Rabada is central to South Africa’s chances. While much attention will naturally go to their  spinners, that first new-ball spell from Rabada is going to be absolutely crucial in trying to  break open India’s batting. Their bowling attack can trouble India, and their batting can put  up big totals. I see this as a close series. India hold a slight advantage, but a strong,  competitive South African performance in both Tests would not surprise me in the least.