Kiran More sees two certain changes in the Indian team for the 2nd Test

One down in a short three-match Test series, India will look to tick all boxes going in the second Test against South Africa which is scheduled to start on 13th January at the SuperSport Park, Centurion. Surprisingly, the Indian team went on with Rohit Sharma ahead of vice-captain Ajinkya Rahane, and Lokesh Rahul who has been in the prime form for the last six months was ignored.

Though the team did exceedingly well in the bowling department, the intent with the bat was on the lower side. Indian bowlers managed to keep the mighty South African quiet in their home conditions in both the innings. However, the visitors, on the other hand, lost wickets in quick succession and didn’t do justice to their reputation in this format.

With batting line-up failing to execute what is expected out of them, Several former Indian cricketers who have backed the inclusion of two top-class players, who missed out an inclusion in the first Test. The last time India toured South Africa, it was Rahane who was able to stick on the wicket for long which eventually helped him to play the lethal lineup with ease.

In that series, he scored 47 and 15 in Johannesburg, 51* and 96 in Durban. On the other hand, Rohit Sharma only managed to read 14, 6, 0 and 25 on the same tour. On the other hand, Lokesh Rahul scored seven consecutive half-centuries last year but still didn’t manage to play the first game.

Inclusion of Rahane and Rahul is must

In a conversation with Times Of India, the former wicketkeeper-batsman Kiran More expressed his views on what should be India‘s ideal playing XI in the second Test.

More believes that the team will go with six batters as Hardik Pandya has been able to bowl those overs for the skipper. He said, “You have to bring Rahane and Rahul back in the playing XI for the next Test. It also depends on whether the team opts for five or six batsmen, but after this Test match, it is certain that India needs to strengthen their batting.”

Picking 20 wickets in a Test match is something a team needs to achieve for a win, but what’s more important is to play to one’s strengths and deliver. He further said, “There couldn’t have been a better way to win a Test after the bowlers did a phenomenal job to bring India back into the game. Another partnership of 50 runs would have sealed the game in India’s favour.”

The former Indian selector concluded by saying, “Everyone has a style of his own. Virat’s aggression on the field doesn’t really affect the morale of the team. The fact of the matter is that we lost the opening Test and need to show more character in the rest of the two Tests to win the series.”