SA vs IND: Irfan Pathan suggests changes in India XI for Cape Town Test

The Indian team got off to a poor start to their ongoing Test series against South Africa. Coming on the back of winning the T20I and ODI series, the visitors succumbed to a massive loss in Centurion as South Africa dominated them on the way to their victory by an innings and 32 runs.

As both sides gear up for the second and final Test in Cape Town, former Indian cricketer Irfan Pathan came forward to suggest some changes that the visitors should make to get back to winning ways. Pathan opined that star all-rounder Ravindra Jadeja should replace Ravichandran Ashwin in Cape Town. He stated that Jadeja’s control in the lower order was missing for India and they must counter that.

"Ravindra Jadeja, if fit, should come back in the team. Ashwin did bowl well from what was expected out of him on that pitch but we missed Jadeja's control while batting at number 7 in Centurion,” Pathan told Star Sports. 

"If you're Rohit Sharma and you want to go with the same bowling attack, that's also fine. But if you're thinking of making a change, Mukesh Kumar could come in for Prasidh Krishna. But if you feel Prasidh is confident in the nets, then he should be backed for the second Test," he added.

India were outplayed in Centurion as they lost the match by an innings. Rohit Sharma and Co. could manage only 245 in the first innings on the back of KL Rahul's century before conceding 408 runs in the first innings. With a healthy 163-run lead, South Africa bundled India out for 131 to clinch a big win.

The second Test of the series is slated to be held at the Newlands Stadium in Cape Town from January 3 and the Indian team will look to put in their best performances and avoid a series loss.