South Africa vs India 2018: Who should play and who shouldn't for India in the second Test

The Indian cricket team, the top-ranked Test side, suffered a 72-run defeat in the first match of the three-match series against South Africa.

The bowlers set up the opening Test, but the batsmen failed to shine against the pace quartet of South Africa.

A lot of eyebrows were raised when India announced their playing XI for the first Test match. Now, after a resounding defeat, the team management will be in a dilemma whether to boost the batting line-up by including an extra batsman or persist with four bowlers along with Hardik Pandya.

Let us have a look at what India's team sheet could look like for the next Test.

Openers

KL Rahul is better suited to South African conditions than Dhawan

Murali Vijay

Nicknamed the 'Monk', Murali Vijay's place as an opener is not under immediate threat. The role of the right-handed batsman would be to see off the new ball and set a platform for the batsmen to follow. Vijay struggled against Philander in the first Test and will need to be more aware of his off stump to succeed in South Africa.

KL Rahul

Shikhar Dhawan was preferred over KL Rahul in the first Test held at Cape Town. The attacking southpaw could only contribute 32 runs to the team's score though.

More than the lack of runs, the mode of Dhawan's dismissals could get him dropped. In both the innings, he lobbed the ball high after being beaten by the tennis ball bounce on offer.

According to the news emanating from the Indian camp, Rahul will play the second Test in place of Dhawan.

Middle-order

Cheteshwar Pujara defends a back-of-a-length delivery

Cheteshwar Pujara

Often compared to Rahul Dravid, Pujara has been rock-solid at number three for the Indian cricket team. A Test specialist, Pujara scored the second most runs in Test cricket in 2017.

The top-order batsman soaked up the pressure early in India's first innings at Cape Town and the team would once again require the patience of the right-handed batsman.

Virat Kohli (c)

Virat Kohli has grown in stature both as a batsman and as a captain in the past two years and is attempting to re-write history by winning Test series in South Africa, England and Australia over the next 18 months.

After a poor first Test, he would be eager to lead from the front in the next Test and get some runs for his team.

Rohit Sharma

'Current form' was the sole reason why Rohit Sharma was preferred over Ajinkya Rahane in the first Test match. The right-handed batsman failed to justify his inclusion in the team though.

Rahane is not in the best of form, but there is little doubt about his technique and caliber. During India's previous overseas tours, he was the lone shining star in the batting line-up. The vice-captain would be hoping to find some form sooner rather than later and do what he did four years ago.

As per the reports from the Indian camp though, Rohit is expected to get the nod.

Wicket-keeper

Saha struggled with the bat in the first Test

Wriddhiman Saha

India's umbrella man, Saha was phenomenal behind the stumps in the first Test. He took 10 catches in the game and broke the record for the most catches taken by an Indian wicket-keeper in a Test match.

Unless Saha suffers a last-minute injury, he is unlikely to be swapped for Parthiv Patel.

All-rounder

Hardik Pandya

Pandya almost scored his first Test century against South Africa on the second day of the first Test match. Had he not contributed with both bat and ball, India would have suffered a more severe defeat.

With his counter-attacking knock of 93 in the first innings and three wickets in the match, Pandya has cemented his place as an all-rounder in the team for the rest of the series.

Spinner

R Ashwin

Ashwin bowled quite well in the opening game

Ashwin bowled a mere eight overs in the first Test, the number of overs he would have bowled on the trot in the sub-continent.

As a batsman, he top-scored with a patient 37 in the fourth innings when the team were bundled out for 135.

The off-spinner will play if the team think-tank decides to stick with five bowlers. However, the skipper could be tempted to play an extra batsman in place of the bowling all-rounder as the venue of the next Test is known for its pace and bounce.

Fast bowlers

Jasprit Bumrah bowled a ripper to Faf du Plessis

Bhuvneshwar Kumar

Bhuvneshwar Kumar gave India the perfect start by taking a wicket in each of his first three overs. He moved the ball both ways and troubled the hosts throughout the match.

As a batsman, Kumar was involved in a face-saving 99-run partnership with Hardik Pandya for the eighth wicket and will be looking to carry his fine form in both departments into the second Test.

Mohammed Shami

On his day, Shami can destroy any batting unit. He gave a glimpse of his brilliance in the morning session of the fourth day.

The spearhead of India's bowling attack, Shami has pace and movement in his arsenal. In addition, the fast bowler has mastered the art of reverse-swing.

Jasprit Bumrah

Everyone was shocked with the inclusion of Jasprit Bumrah in the playing XI for the first Test at the expense of Ishant Sharma. The fast bowler is considered a death-bowling specialist in limited-overs cricket and had not played a first-class match in the past year.

In the first innings, the lanky pacer was accused of bowling a line and length reserved for the shorter formats. However, Bumrah adjusted his line of attack and took three wickets in the second innings.