<p>It’s not always the case that a team’s best eleven is the greatest combination given the circumstances, and India will undoubtedly battle to find the optimum combination before the first Test match against South Africa on “Boxing Day.” Head coach Rahul Dravid will be restless for at least two spots. The difficult decision of whether to replace the really irreplaceable Mohammed Shami, who is recovering from an ankle ache, with either Mukesh Kumar or Prasidh Krishna, and KL Rahul is expected to maintain wickets to support the batting, will be the key difficulty for India.</p>
<p><img decoding=”async” class=”alignnone wp-image-321314″ src=”https://www.theindiaprint.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/theindiaprint.com-file-image-of-indian-cricket-team-coach-rahul-dravid-and-captain-rohit-sharma-1010-750×422.jpg” alt=”theindiaprint.com file image of indian cricket team coach rahul dravid and captain rohit sharma 1010″ width=”834″ height=”469″ title=”File image of Indian cricket team coach Rahul Dravid and captain Rohit Sharma 12″ srcset=”https://www.theindiaprint.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/theindiaprint.com-file-image-of-indian-cricket-team-coach-rahul-dravid-and-captain-rohit-sharma-1010-750×422.jpg 750w, https://www.theindiaprint.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/theindiaprint.com-file-image-of-indian-cricket-team-coach-rahul-dravid-and-captain-rohit-sharma-1010-1024×576.jpg 1024w, https://www.theindiaprint.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/theindiaprint.com-file-image-of-indian-cricket-team-coach-rahul-dravid-and-captain-rohit-sharma-1010-768×432.jpg 768w, https://www.theindiaprint.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/theindiaprint.com-file-image-of-indian-cricket-team-coach-rahul-dravid-and-captain-rohit-sharma-1010-390×220.jpg 390w, https://www.theindiaprint.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/theindiaprint.com-file-image-of-indian-cricket-team-coach-rahul-dravid-and-captain-rohit-sharma-1010-150×84.jpg 150w, https://www.theindiaprint.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/12/theindiaprint.com-file-image-of-indian-cricket-team-coach-rahul-dravid-and-captain-rohit-sharma-1010.jpg 1280w” sizes=”(max-width: 834px) 100vw, 834px” /></p>
<p>While some selections may seem simple on the surface, the Indian team management will once again have to make difficult choices, so things won’t be as simple as they appear.</p>
<p>Prasidh or Mukesh?</p>
<p>Historically, the Centurion track has been a fast bowler’s dream come true; it’s firm and bouncy, and the humidity helps with the reverse swing in the later part of the day.</p>
<p>Therefore, Mukesh, who has already made his Test debut in the Caribbean, steps right into the starting XI if one is talking about lateral mobility. However, throughout the series’ white ball leg, the Bengal seamer hasn’t seemed to be in the greatest of form.</p>
<p>But Mukesh seems most at home in red-ball cricket, where he has amassed 151 wickets from 40 first-class matches with an average of more than 21 runs per wicket. He continues to hit at a very respectable 48 balls per wicket.</p>
<p>What’s more, Mukesh is a workhorse of a bowler who can bowl for extended lengths of time and who, while playing Ranji Trophy cricket, has also been known to utilize reverse swing.</p>
<p>Channel bowling, or staying exactly on the line, in and around the off-stump corridor and maintaining its longer length is the second benefit.</p>
<p>Prasidh, a fellow Bangalore native and one of Dravid’s favorites, is Mukesh’s closest rival. His hit-the-deck style is perfect for the Supersport Park.</p>
<p>If Shami had been healthy, Prasidh—who hasn’t even played 15 first-class games since making his Ranji Trophy debut in 2015—wouldn’t even be in the picture.</p>
<p>By picking up a fifer for India ‘A’ against South Africa ‘A’ in the first ‘Unofficial Test’ in Potchefstroom, he hasn’t hurt his case, however.</p>
<p>Prasidh is anticipated to get more bounce because of his somewhat faster pace and naturally shorter length. However, since he isn’t renowned for sticking to his lines, he may also leak runs.</p>
<p>If ODI form is any indication, Mukesh may not win, but if red ball cricket talent is any indication, he has a clear edge over Prasidh.</p>
<p>KL “the hitter” or KL “the custodian”<br />
In 2021, Supersport Park served as the site of India’s lone Test victory in the three-match series. Rahul led the batting and looked magnificent as he approached his hundred.</p>
<p>But in the last two years, things have changed. Rishabh Pant had a terrible accident, KS Bharat didn’t seem ready for the major leagues, Rahul lost his form, and Ishan Kishan, who has been benched since the World Cup began, has now requested a “mental health break.”</p>
<p>Rahul was selected to start as the series’ goalie, and he has already said that he is willing to take on whatever position the team requests.</p>
<p>The last time, he was dropped from the starting lineup, so he knows that glovework will help him counteract any bad hitting form in the meantime, until Pant returns, which may still be a long way off.</p>
<p>The fact that Bharat was selected for India A despite not managing even a single fifty in five Test matches indicates that the cupboard is empty. Based on his white ball performance, Kishan was also awarded a Test cap. Dhruv Jurel, the second keeper for the A squad, is more of a T20 keeper-batter in the style of Jitesh Sharma.</p>
<p>India currently lacks quality red-ball keeping options. However, it has been reported that young Kumar Kushagra, who signed a massive Rs 7.20 million IPL contract with Delhi Capitals, may be given serious consideration to be the second keeper for the England series.</p>
<p>Rahul can still get by in South Africa since he can collect most balls around his waist and pass them to the pacers. However, it is more difficult to retain Ravindra Jadeja and Ravichandran Ashwin on rank turners.</p>
<p>However, in Bharat, if one plays a specialized keeper, the batting combination is thrown out. Yashasvi Jaiswal might be the ultimate sacrifice if Gill or Rahul begin the batting after their impressive Test debut in the West Indies.</p>
<p>Shreyas Iyer, who is still an unproven commodity on energetic tracks in SENA nations, can only be inserted into the middle order and provide depth in this manner.</p>
<p>Rahul’s ability to hold wickets will determine if Dravid thinks positively or negatively.</p>
File image of Indian cricket team coach Rahul Dravid and captain Rohit Sharma
