India vs South Africa 1st Test: India’s likely XI at Visakhapatnam

India and South Africa will face each other in the first Test of the three-match series starting at Visakhapatnam on 2 October.

They go into the five-day contests having shared the T20I series 1-1, with one game being washed out. While India come into the Test matches having tasted success in West Indies, the ongoing tour of India is South Africa’s first assignment post the disastrous 2019 World Cup campaign.

The Indian playing XI for the Visakhapatnam Test is under much debate these days with Lokesh Rahul being dropped from the side and Jasprit Bumrah picking up an injury in the build up to the series. There are reports that Rohit Sharma is likely to open the batting in place of Rahul while Umesh Yadav could be drafted into the playing XI in place of Bumrah.

Here’s a look at the likely playing XI for India in the first Test:

Openers: Mayank Agarwal and Rohit Sharma

Rohit Sharma

With three fifties in his first four Tests, Mayank Agarwal is a certainty to open the innings in the first Test. With scores of 76, 77 and 55 in three of his seven innings so far, Agarwal has made an impressive start to his Test career. That said, as an opener he will need to start converting those half-centuries into three-figure scores.

Rohit Sharma

In all probability, Rohit Sharma will be opening the batting with Agarwal. With Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane and Hanuma Vihari occupying the middle-order, there is no vacancy there as of now. As such, the Indian think tank is keen to see how Rohit performs at the top of the order. It is a risk no doubt, but one worth taking.

Also see - India South Africa schedule

Middle order: Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane, Hanuma Vihari

Ajinkya Rahane

India's middle-order is pretty much settled with Cheteshwar Pujara, skipper Virat Kohli, Ajinkya Rahane and Hanuma Vihari occupying spots 3-6.

Pujara had a surprisingly poor series in West Indies, with a best of 27 across four innings. He would be keen to make amends for that against South Africa.

Kohli remained in good nick in West Indies, with half-centuries in both the Tests.

The performances of Rahane and Vihari in West Indies were two of the biggest gains for India from the series. While the Indian vice-captain registered two half-centuries and a much-needed hundred (after a span of two years), Vihari ended up as the man of the series with scores of 32, 93, 111 and 53 not out.

The fact that Vihari can roll his arm over and also open the innings when asked to makes him a rather valuable asset in the current Indian Test set-up.

Wicket-keeper: Rishabh Pant

Rishabh Pant

The swashbuckling wicket-keeper batsman may have struggled with the willow in recent times but seems to enjoy the confidence of the team management, and is likely to be the first-choice wicket-keeper. Rishabh Pant’s shot selection will be under intense focus after some soft dismissals in recent times.

India have the option to go back to Wriddhiman Saha, but he is almost 35 now and doesn't have a half-century in his last five Tests. The feeling is that the time to look beyond Saha has arrived.

All-rounder: Ravindra Jadeja

Ravindra Jadeja

Ravindra Jadeja has time and again proved he is a utility cricketer. He stood up when everyone else failed in the World Cup semi-final and was among the runs and wickets in West Indies as well.

Bowlers: Ravichandran Ashwin, Ishant Sharma and Mohammad Shami

Ishant Sharma

While Umesh Yadav has been picked in the squad instead of the injured Jasprit Bumrah, Ishant Sharma and Mohammed Shami will be the first two automatic choices as pacers having proved themselves over the last couple of seasons.

Ashwin should ideally take his slot as the first spinner. He picked up eight wickets the last and only time a Test was played at Visakhapatnam, against England in November 2016.