Indian Selectors will announce the team for two-match Test series against South Africa on Thursday. We are expected to see some major changes to the line-up as Rohit Sharma may lead the team as the opening batsman for the longer format matches. Rohit played in the final Test for India in the series against Australia in 2018.
KL Rahul’s inconsistent performance against West Indies was a big reason behind the major change. Rohit, the vice-captain of the white-ball Indian cricket team, did not make the final playing XI against the recently concluded West Indies series. Rohit will be opening for India in longer format after his consistently spectacular performance in the shorter formats. Rohit will be seen opening alongside with Mayank Agarwal.
It is expected to see Cheteshwar Pujara batting at number three followed by the captain himself at number four.
Along with Rohit Sharma, if Abhimanyu Easwaran also makes the final team then it’s most likely that he may replace KL Rahul. If they both are selected, then they might feature in India A in the two day practice matches against South Africa in Vizianagaram before the first Test in Visakhapatnam.
The most likely squad:
Mayank Agarwal, Rohit Sharma, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Hanuma Vihari, Rishabh Pant, Wriddhiman Saha, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Shami, Ishant Sharma, Umesh Yadav, Ravichandran Ashwin, Ravindra Jadeja and Kuldeep Yadav