India Playing XI Cape Town Test: Hanuma Vihari set to be dropped – With Virat Kohli all set to return for the 3rd and final Test against South Africa, the axe is going to fall down on Hanuma Vihari. The Hyderabad batsman played a gritty 40-run knock in the 2nd innings of the 2nd Test but that isn’t enough to retain his place. But the question marks hang on Rishabh Pant and Mohammed Siraj’s places due to different reasons. Follow IND vs SA Live Updates on InsideSport.IN.
Having spent the last three tours as a reserve batsman, the chance finally opened up when Virat Kohli was ruled out with an upper back spasm. He was picked ahead of Shreyas Iyer. After being dismissed on a superb catch on 20 in the first innings, Hanuma Vihari showed his grit in the second innings. He shouldered on with a patient unbeaten knock of 40 off 84 balls. But Virat Kohli’s return means he will be benched once again.
India Playing XI Cape Town Test: Hanuma Vihari set to be dropped, will Dravid-Kohli bring in Wriddhiman Saha? Follow Live Updates
“Hanuma Vihari played really well in both the innings. He batted beautifully in the second innings, Shreyas Iyer batted well for us in the past. The guys have to take heart from the fact that they are doing well when the opportunity is presenting itself. It happens, Virat, Ajinkya all faced similar situations when they were young,” said Dravid during a virtual press conference.
India Playing XI Cape Town Test:
- KL Rahul
- Mayank Agarwal
- Cheteshwar Pujara
- Virat Kohli (C)
- Ajinkya Rahane
- Rishabh Pant/ Wriddhiman Saha
- Ravichandran Ashwin
- Shardul Thakur
- Mohammed Shami
- Jasprit Bumrah
- Mohammed Siraj/ Ishant Sharma/ Umesh Yadav
India Playing XI Cape Town Test: Hanuma Vihari set to be dropped, will Dravid-Kohli bring in Wriddhiman Saha? Follow Live Updates
India Playing XI Cape Town Test: Three changes on the cards –
- Virat Kohli comes in for Hanuma Vihari
- Mohammed Siraj is doubtful with a hamstring injury, Ishant Sharma and Umesh Yadav are on standby.
- Rishabh Pant is likely to retain his place but Rahul Dravid, Virat Kohli are not happy with the way he has thrown away wickets in crucial situations.
- Wriddhiman Saha is on the bench and could be given a go. He scored 61 in Kanpur Test and looks in good touch.
Mohammed Siraj doubtful – Coach Rahul Dravid pointed out how Mohammed Siraj’s injury hampered India in the match. Siraj pulled his hamstring in the first innings and wasn’t at his 100%. While he is continued to be monitored, with a lot more Test matches coming up, the team management is unlikely to take the risk. If he is not fully fit, Rahul Dravid has already hinted at the inclusion of Ishant Sharma or Umesh Yadav for the series-deciding Cape Town Test.
Should Wriddhiman Saha replace Rishabh Pant? – India’s No 1 wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant’s place is in doubt not because of his keeping skills or batting quality but his lack of understanding the situation. Rahul Dravid was furious with the way Pant threw away his wicket trying to against Kagiso Rabada in the 2nd innings when India were 167/4. Dravid and Sunil Gavaskar questioned his shot selection.
India Playing XI Cape Town Test: Hanuma Vihari set to be dropped, will Dravid-Kohli bring in Wriddhiman Saha? Follow Live Updates
Former India opener Wasim Jaffer too wasn’t pleased. He asked the young wicketkeeper-batsman to respect the bowler and play a responsible innings at he bats at a crucial No 6 position.
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“You cannot play so loosely straight away after coming to bat. Even though he is known to be very free-flowing player, he looks to take on the attack, you need to respect the condition and the bowler. Once you spend half an hour, then you can go back to your normal game. But until then, because he is batting at No 6, a very, very crucial position, you need to deliver more often,” Wasim Jaffer said on InsideCricket with Wasim Jaffer show.
India Playing XI Cape Town Test: Hanuma Vihari set to be dropped, will Dravid-Kohli bring in Wriddhiman Saha? Follow Live Updates
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