For the first time since November 19 - the World Cup final - team India is taking the field at its full strength albeit in a different format - Tests. Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah are set to make a comeback as well for the first time in more than a month. But the team will miss the pace bowler Mohammed Shami who has been ruled out of the entire Test series against South Africa due to ankle injury.
The selectors had earlier included him in the squad hoping that he would be fit in time for the Tests but that hasn't happened and the BCCI also confirmed the development. "Mr Mohd Shami, whose participation in the Test series was subject to fitness has not been cleared by the BCCI Medical Team and the fast bowler is ruled out of the two Tests," the BCCI said in the statement. India will also miss Ruturaj Gaikwad in the Test series who has been ruled out after sustaining a finger injury during the ODI series against South Africa. Abhimanyu Easwaran has been named his replacement.
As far as the Test match is concerned, India have won the toss and opted to bat first as the visitors have handed a debut to Prasidh Krishna who will replace Mohammed Shami in the playing XI. Interestingly, Ravindra Jadeja has missed out with back spasm and Ravi Ashwin is set to play an overseas Test after a long time. Meanwhile, South Africa have also handed debuts to Nandre Burger and David Bedingham.
Playing XIs:
South Africa (Playing XI): Dean Elgar, Aiden Markram, Tony de Zorzi, Temba Bavuma(c), Keegan Petersen, David Bedingham, Kyle Verreynne(w), Marco Jansen, Gerald Coetzee, Kagiso Rabada, Nandre Burger
India (Playing XI): Rohit Sharma(c), Yashasvi Jaiswal, Shubman Gill, Virat Kohli, Shreyas Iyer, KL Rahul(w), Ravichandran Ashwin, Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna
