NEW DELHI: As India gear up for the second T20I against South Africa in Gqeberha on Sunday, all eyes are on potential changes to the playing XI, with leg-spinner Ravi Bishnoi possibly making way if the team opts for only two spinners.
India lead the four-match series 1-0 following a commanding 61-run victory in the opening game in Durban, and the team's selection strategy could be tweaked based on the conditions in Gqeberha.
Former India cricketer Aakash Chopra has suggested that Bishnoi may be the unfortunate casualty if India choose to drop one spinner, given that Axar Patel is a crucial all-rounder and Varun Chakaravarthy has become an indispensable option in recent matches.
"If you see this team, Axar is batting at No. 7. You won't drop someone who is batting at No. 7. One of the spinners below him will have to go if you go with two spinners. Who will that be - Varun Chakaravarthy or Ravi Bishnoi? As unfortunate as it might be, I feel it will be Ravi Bishnoi because, at this point in time, no one is touching Varun Chakaravarthy," said Chopra on his YouTube channel.
Chopra highlighted that Varun Chakaravarthy’s ability to take key wickets, including dismissals of Ryan Rickelton, Heinrich Klaasen, and David Miller in the first match, gives him an edge over Bishnoi. "Varun Chakaravarthy has moved ahead in the line. If two spinners play, I am seeing Axar Patel and Varun Chakaravarthy playing," he added.
Both Chakaravarthy (3/25) and Bishnoi (3/28) were among India's top wicket-takers in the first match, but with Gqeberha’s surface expected to be slightly tacky, India may decide to field only two spinners instead of three.
Chopra also pointed out that Ramandeep Singh, an all-rounder who has impressed in domestic cricket, could be in line for a debut if India opt to add a seam-bowling option in place of a spinner. "Ramandeep bowls a little medium pace and hits a lot of sixes. There are bright chances of Ramandeep Singh making his debut, and if someone misses out, it will be Ravi Bishnoi," he observed.
- India Squad: Suryakumar Yadav (c), Abhishek Sharma, Sanju Samson (wk), Rinku Singh, Tilak Varma, Jitesh Sharma (wk), Hardik Pandya, Axar Patel, Ramandeep Singh, Varun Chakravarthy, Ravi Bishnoi, Arshdeep Singh, Vijaykumar Vyshak, Avesh Khan, Yash Dayal.
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