Chance for stars to find rhythm as India ‘A’ face South Africa ‘A’ in Bengaluru | Cricket News
Bengaluru: Later this month, the home Test series against South Africa will be India’s last opportunity to play red-ball cricket before focusing exclusively on white-ball matches until next August.With 24 World Test Championship points at stake, Shubman Gill and his men will seek maximum gains from the Test matches to be held in Kolkata and Guwahati. To set the stage for these crucial games, attention now turns to the build-up and the players’ form.
The prelude to the series begins here at the BCCI Centre of Excellence (CoE) on Thursday as India ‘A’ square off against South Africa ‘A’ in the second and final four-day game.While India won the opener — an exciting contest — by three wickets, the focus shifts to key players in the home side and South African Test skipper Temba Bavuma, who missed the recent Test series against Pakistan due to injury.In the previous match, one of the biggest takeaways for India was the return of Rishabh Pant to match fitness. Coming off a three-month injury lay-off, Pant, who is leading the side, will look to gain more match time.KL Rahul, who was part of the Indian team for the ODI series against Australia, has returned to join the team for some red-ball practice. The 33-year-old will look to get an eye in on a pace-friendly surface at the CoE. Sai Sudharsan will have to find his mojo after struggling as an opener in the first game, in which he returned scores of 32 and 12. Spinner Kuldeep Yadav will be joined by pacers Mohammed Siraj, Prasidh Krishna and Akash Deep.In the opposition camp, the match is most crucial for Bavuma. He last played a Test match in June, when he led South Africa to the WTC title against Australia.Bavuma praises young Indian teamBavuma was all praise for the Indian side led by Shubman Gill. The South African skipper said that in the post-Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma and R. Ashwin era, the team has stood up to be counted. “I think the guys have the talent and skill to make up for their lack of experience,” he said.
