When team India boarded the flight for South Africa, they must have had plans to create history. Their hope was substantiated when Bhuvneshwar Kumar ran through the South African top order in the first Test. But consecutive defeats soured the spirits of the Indian cricket fans.
Following a dramatic turn of events, the team bounced back in the third Test at the Wanderers, on a pitch that was rated ‘poor’ by the ICC. Since then, Kohli and the boys have shown that they are perfectly capable of upholding their aggressive style of play in overseas conditions as well.
Being 4-1 up in the 6-match ODI series, Kohli hinted at the post-match presentation that he would not mind testing the bench’s strength in the final ODI. On that note, let us have a look at the possible changes that Kohli can make in the final ODI at Centurion.
Axar Patel In For Yuzvendra Chahal
Yuzvendra Chahal incurred a couple of blows on his left hand at Port Elizabeth. After the leggie tried to catch a barrelling on-drive from David Miller, he had to leave the field for a precautionary scan. Bearing in mind that Chahal would be a vital cog for India in the upcoming 3-match T20 series against the Proteas, it won’t be a bad idea to give him some time off to nurse his swollen arm.
Axar Patel’s services can come in handy for the team in Chahal’s absence. Patel’s inclusion would bring a new dimension to the Indian bowling. Accepted, that the two wrist spinners have hitherto done a great job for India – but the left-arm spinner would certainly bring in some variety in the Indian bowling with his slippery wicket-to-wicket deliveries.
Mohammad Shami In For Bhuvneshwar Or Pandya
Mohammad Shami was India’s leading wicket-taker in the recently-concluded Test match series against the Proteas. His 5-fer in the second innings of the last Test broke the back of the South African batting. If India are considering him in the scheme of things for the 2019 World Cup (which they will be, in all likelihood), it will serve Shami well if he gets some matches under his belt. His extra pace and the skiddy nature of his deliveries can certainly hurry the opposition batsmen. This match can also be used to test Shami’s credentials in the slog overs.
The mercurial pacer can make the cut in place of either Bhuvneshwar Kumar or Hardik Pandya. Both Bhuvneshwar and Pandya are currently playing all three formats of the game. They had to do a lot of work in the Test series. The situation has been no different in the ODI series either. Furthermore, both of them are also automatic picks for the T20 matches. After this tour, they will also feature in the Nidahas Trophy (a 7-match T20 tri-series) and the IPL. Hence, they need a well-deserved break from the action.
Manish Pandey Or Dinesh Karthik In For Shreyas Iyer
Either Manish Pandey or Dinesh Karthik can be given a game in the place of Shreyas Iyer in the final ODI. Both of them have been warming the benches throughout the tour and will be raring to prove their mettle. Iyer has only managed 48 runs in the two ODIs. Moreover, he has been quite uneasy in the middle. He has also dropped a couple of costly catches.
As far as the batting order is concerned, Shreyas Iyer is more comfortable at the number three or number four spot, but both these spots have been occupied by the stalwarts, Kohli and Rahane. On the other hand, the natural games of Pandey or Karthik are such that they are more suited for the number five spot. Also, keeping the 2019 World Cup and the upcoming England and Australia tours in mind, it would be a far-sighted decision to give them some match practice.