SA vs IND: Wasim Jaffer names India's XI for first Test, Ajinkya Rahane included

Team India faces a massive selection dilemma ahead of the first Test against South Africa at the SuperSport Park in Centurion. The action gets underway on December 26 and Virat Kohli’s men would be raring to make a winning start to the series. However, their first challenge would be selecting a potent playing XI. Notably, the visiting team faces several players due to injury issues and there are also many names contesting for one spot.

While only time would tell how India’s playing XI would look like, several fans and experts have been predicting the line-up. Former Indian batter Wasim Jaffer is the latest to join the bandwagon.  He didn’t have many issues in picking openers with Mayank Agarwal and KL Rahul being the obvious choices. Jaffer persisted with Cheteshwar Pujara as the number three batter despite the latter’s dismal run.

Ajinkya Rahane has been in South Africa and even did well: Wasim Jaffer

Needless to mention, skipper Virat Kohli was slotted next in the line-up. Now, the biggest debate has been around the number-five batter. Speaking in this regard, Jaffer backed Ajinkya Rahane to get over his poor form. “There has been a lot of debate about Ajinkya Rahane. Whether he should play, whether he should not play?  There’s Hanuma Vihari waiting in the benches,” said Vihari in a video for ESPNcricinfo.

“In my opinion, however, he should play as he has been there and has even done well,” he added. Interestingly, Jaffer went with Shreyas Iyer as the number-six batter with wicketkeeper Rishabh Pant occupying the next slot. On expected lines, Ravichandran Ashwin was the lone spinner in Jaffer’s line-up.

The last three slots were occupied by pacers with Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj forming the trio. Ishant Sharma was also a notable exclusion alongside Hanuma Vihari. It must be noted that South Africa is the only country where India is yet to record a Tets series win. Hence, Virat Kohli’s men would be chasing history.

Wasim Jaffer’s India’s playing XI for first Test against South Africa: Mayank Agarwal, KL Rahul, Cheteshwar Pujara, Virat Kohli (c), Ajinkya Rahane, Shreyas Iyer, Rishabh Pant (wk), Ravichandran Ashwin, Mohammed Shami, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj