India tour of South Africa: 5 areas of concern for India in Tests

When the World no.1 and No. 2 teams in the world clash, there are always fireworks. The Indian team is scheduled to tour South Africa in January for a full-fledged series which includes 3 Tests, 6 One Day Internationals, and 3 Twenty20 Internationals.

India is going to South Africa after a gap of almost 4 years and it is one of the most anticipated series of 2018. Last time when these two met in South Africa, India almost leveled the series, if not for Faf du Plessis and AB de Villiers' heroics. It is going to be a high voltage contest and there will be no shortage of fun for spectators.

South Africa is always the toughest place to tour for any sub-continent team. Indians are going to play a test outside of sub-continent after almost 17 months and they need to sort out few things before they travel to South Africa.

Let's see the 5 major areas of concern for India in South Africa

#5 Who will open the batting for India

India's most trusted opening pair

KL Rahul and Murali Vijay are the regular openers for India in tests. But in the absence of Murali Vijay due to Injury, Shikhar Dhawan came into the team after almost a year and did an excellent job in Sri Lanka. He scored a couple of hundred in the series and was the highest run-getter with 358 runs.

Before his injury, Murali Vijay was Kohli's first name on the list to open the batting for India. Opening the batting for India in tests, he has done exceptionally well in the last 3 years and deserves to be in the eleven when India take the ground in Newlands Cricket Ground, Cape Town on January 2018.

With an average of 47 and scores of at least 50 in his last 7 innings, there is no doubt that KL Rahul was the find of last season. He was brilliant in the test series Australia and England. Injuries hampered his tour of Srilanka but Rahul will be itching to have a crack at South Africa.

When all three are fit and available, Kohli will have to decide on who will be his no.1 and 2.

#4 Who is Kohli's primary spinner

This is the question that we have to answer every time India travel outside the sub-continent. There is no doubt that Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja are India's primary spinners in tests. Jadeja and Ashwin took 44 wickets apiece in 2017 and are currently in No.2 and No.4 in the ICC rankings for bowlers respectively.

But the conditions in South Africa will allow Virat Kohli to play only one spinner, and it is going to be a very tough choice for Kohli to decide between Ashwin and Jadeja.

South Africans are expected to play only a couple of left-handers (Deal Elgar ad Quinton de Kock) in the team. So with 5 right-handers in the SA team, Ravindra Jadeja will most likely get the nod ahead of Ashwin because of his ability to take the ball away from the batsman.

Also, another factor that can contribute to Ashwin's omission is his away record. He was not prolific in away Tests as he was in home conditions.

#3 Who is India's third seamer

Australia v India - Game 1

India's fast bowling department looks surprisingly healthy after a long time. India will look to have at least 5 fast bowlers in the squad and most likely the names are going to be Umesh Yadav, Mohammad Shami, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Ishant Sharma and Jasprit Bumrah.

Last time when India played a Test match, it was Shami and Umesh who led India's pace attack. They both were brilliant in Sri Lanka and will definitely be Kohli's no.1 and no.2 if they are fit. But the conditions in South Africa will definitely demand a third seamer.

Who will be the third seamer is a big question. Bhuvneshwar Kumar is the most likely candidate because of the ability to swing the ball and conditions in South Africa will definitely aid his bowling style.

On current form, Jasprit Bumrah should at least make the test squad. The fifth seamer could be Ishant Sharma because of his overseas experience.

#2 How to tackle Rabada, Morkel, and Philander

Partners in crime

This is a question that no batsman in the world has a definite answer to. Kagiso Rabada, Morne Morkel, and Vernon Philander will make the South Africa pace attack.

Kagiso Rabada is the leading wicket-taker in the tests for 2017 with 54 wickets form 10 games. He will be deadly with his pace and bounce on lively wickets and will definitely make life uncomfortable for Kohli & team.

India has always had troubles in the past against moving balls and Vernon Philander is a master at exploiting that vulnerability. He will be in the corridor of uncertainty and leaving the good balls is the key to tackle him.

Then there is the ever-present Morne Morkel. He will run in all day, whether it is a new or old ball. His height will generate extra bounce and he is also consistent with his length. Preparations in the next 2 months will be key to India's success in South Africa.

#1 Team Combination

Captain with his thinking cap on

What will be India's combination? The toughest question of all. Virat Kohli always likes to go with five bowlers and 6 batsmen in sub-continent conditions but will he stick to the same strategy in South Africa is a big question.

Virat Kohli will definitely play three seamers. There is a slot for a spinner but we don't know who that will be. Wriddhiman Saha will definitely take the keeper gloves.

Is there a place for Hardik Pandya? The answer is most likely 'Yes'. The conditions in South Africa will demand a fast bowling allrounder at no.7 and there is no one better than Hardik Pandya at the moment. He will bring some much-needed balance to the team.

Pujara, Kohli and Rahane will take the #3, #4, #5 slots. Rohit Sharma may not find a place in the team for the first test.