Win Projections to be updated soon
The new year has arrived. Team India is on their way to play the second Test match against South Africa on January 3 in Cape Town. In the first Test match of the series, South Africa defeated India by an innings and 32 runs. Team India’s bowling performance was just not up to the mark. They struggled in front of South African bowlers. There was a buzz going over the bowler selection of Team India for the second Test match. Krishnamachari Srikkanth backs Ravichandran Ashwin Ahead of the Test match.
Srikkanth on Ashwin:
On December 26, India and South Africa met in the first Test in Centurion. In that Test, India performed differently than the desired. The bowlers couldn’t execute their plan. They gave plenty of runs. Shardul Thakur bowled the most expensive spell of the match. In 19 overs, he conceded 101 runs and took only 1 wicket. That was a setback for the team. South African batters played exceptionally well and scored a huge run in the first innings.
Ravindra Jadeja missed out on the first Test match of the series due to a back spasm. Ravichandran Ashwin was named in the playing XI. He played well. In 19 overs, he conceded only 41 runs and took the wicket of Gerald Coetzee. He bowled six maiden overs in the match with an economy rate of 2.16.
Krishnamachari Srikkanth backed Ravichandran Ashwin ahead of the second Test match. He said that Ashwin could be an asset to the team for the second Test match. Srikkanth said, “I will still play Ashwin. I believe Ashwin is better than Shardul Thakur. I will play Ashwin in place of Shardul. Even if he doesn’t pick up five-wicket hauls, he will pick up a couple (of wickets). Probably, he will combine well with Jadeja and bowl tight lines. These two can work together and pick up 4-5 wickets, you never know. That should be enough, he would have done his job.”
On Prasidh Krishna:
After the ODI and T20 formats, Prasidh Krishna made his Test debut against South Africa at Centurion. He conceded runs but took a wicket. In 20 overs, he conceded 93 runs in 1 wicket. He bowled two maiden overs. A buzz was going over his exclusion in the second Test match against South Africa. But Srikkanth also backed Prasidh Krishna. He thinks the immediate inclusion of the pacer from the playing XI will be unfair to him.
He said, “If at all you are going to make their batters struggle, you do have an opportunity with your spinners. You can beat them in flight, you can try something like that. I will drop Shardul Thakur. Prasidh Krishna, if you drop him now, it’s unfair. He has played one Test only. It’s unfair to drop anyone after their debut. Shardul Thakur does not fit the bill.”
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