India faces team selection conundrum before the 1st Test

Virat Kohli faces a selection dilemma ahead of the first Test

The Indian cricket team management, including Test captain Virat Kohli, will have selection headaches before announcing the squad for the first Test against South Africa in Mohali. After losing the ODI and the T20I series, India will be hoping that their captain can lead the Test squad to victory over the Number 1 Test side in the world.

Kohli is set to make his home Test captaincy debut when India take on South Africa on November 5. Finding the right combination in the squad will be vital to starting off on the right note for Kohli on Indian soil.

The openers’ slots are where the the problems begin for the decision-makers. Dhawan has been going through a rough patch of late, but his centuries in the last two Test series against Banglades and Sri Lanka should stand him in good stead to get selected.

In the ODI series, Dhawan had scored only 126 runs at an average of 25.20. The Indian southpaw will have to put in a convincing performance in the first Test if he wants to maintain his place in the squad.

KL Rahul has been in good touch with the bat and will give the selectors something to think about. He played a couple of good innnings, scoring 72 and 43 for Board President's XI against the South Africans in the two-day practice match that was played on October 30 and 31 at the Brabourne Stadium.

In the practice match, Cheteshwar Pujara failed to impress in the first innings although he scored 49 in the second innings. Pujara's hundred against Sri Lanka did help guide India to a match and a series victory. Considering that Pujara did it while opening the batting will give Kohli an extra option. However, Pujara is probably a best bet at Number 3.

Another problem in the batting lineup is where to fit in Rohit Sharma. Rohit has come up with a few good innings with the bat in the ODI and T20I series, and his ability to play the South African bowlers well will probably give him a spot in the squad at Number 6.

Former Indian cricketers were divided in their opinions on who India should play as the spinners as per a report on TOI. Former Indian capatain Dilip Vengsarkar believed that the Amit Mishra deserved to be in the team ahead of Ravindra Jadeja. Vengsarkar felt that being a specialist Mishra could win games for India.

Chetan Chauhan, former Indian opener, believed either Rohit or Jadeja will have to be dropped, depending on whether India play five or four bowlers respectively.

Former Indian wicket-keeper and chief selector Kiran More believed the pitch would play a role in the final selection. “Unless they prepare a really dry pitch, India are likely to play two spinners and not three. I'd pick Jadeja, instead of Mishra to partner Ashwin in that scenario,” he said.

Jadeja has been in immense form for Saurashtra as he picked up 37 wickets in three games while Mishra picked up 15 wickets in the three-match Test series against Sri Lanka.

The next few days will be interesting from a team selection perspective for India as they hope to find the right dynamics in the squad to edge the Proteas in the Test series.