Axar and Pant Boost Indian Squad; South Africa Chooses to Bat Without Rabada
In an exciting start to the Test series, South Africa won the toss and opted to bat against India. Captain Temba Bavuma expressed confidence in his decision, believing the pitch would favor batters in the initial days. The team made strategic choices regarding their lineup, deciding against adding an extra spinner despite playing in India.
Team Changes and Selection Strategy
South Africa made several adjustments. They brought back Wiaan Mulder into the batting order at No. 3, with Corbin Bosch taking the place of the sidelined Kagiso Rabada. Furthermore, Bavuma replaced Dewald Brevis, reinforcing the team’s batting strength while maintaining a focus on seam bowling.
- Wiaan Mulder – No. 3
- Corbin Bosch – Replacing Kagiso Rabada
- Temba Bavuma – Returned to the lineup
India’s Bold Experimentation
On India’s side, the team is poised to explore new talent. Washington Sundar joins the squad, taking the No. 3 batting position. His inclusion meant that B Sai Sudharsan, who has been filling that spot in recent matches, had to sit out.
India’s bowling attack remains formidable. The squad includes Kuldeep Yadav, Mohammed Siraj, and Jasprit Bumrah, ensuring a balance of spin and pace. Additionally, Axar Patel rounds out the bowling unit as one of two left-arm orthodox spinners.
- Yashasvi Jaiswal
- KL Rahul
- Washington Sundar
- Shubman Gill (captain)
- Rishabh Pant (wicketkeeper)
- Ravindra Jadeja
- Dhruv Jurel
- Axar Patel
- Kuldeep Yadav
- Jasprit Bumrah
- Mohammed Siraj
World Test Championship Standings
This series carries significance for both teams in the World Test Championship (WTC) standings. India currently ranks No. 3 with 61.9% of the available points. In contrast, South Africa occupies the fifth position with 50% of the points.
As for the toss, this marks South Africa’s first victory at the toss against India in eight attempts, a statistic that Bavuma hopes will herald a change in fortune for his team.
