Former Indian captain Sunil Gavaskar named his 11th player for Team India for the first Test against South Africa. The Boxing Day test match between the teams will be played at Centurion’s Super Sport Park on December 26.

Sunil Gavaskar while talking to Star Sports, bCaptain Rohit Sharma and youngster Yashasvi Jaiswal opened the innings for the team in the first Test against South Africa. The duo had great success as a pair in the West Indies series and hope to continue their excellent form as well.

A lot would depend on them as both Rohit and Jaiswal need to make good starts which will set the platform for the team. Sunil Gavaskar then batted for Shubman Gill to take the number 3 position. The young batsman hit a lot at that position in the practice match and would hope to continue his golden touch.

The great batsman chose Virat Kohli to bat at number 4 in the first Test against the series. The senior batsman will be key for India in the series. In the previous tours to South Africa they have had great success and if India are to have a chance of winning, they have to shoot.

Sunil Gavaskar picked KL Rahul and Shreyas Iyer as the fifth and sixth batsmen. The big batsman believes the duo can bat here and there. Rahul is expected to keep wickets in the Test while Iyer will have something to prove in the overseas conditions as it will be his comeback series.

Sunil Gavaskar surprised many when he picked Ravichandran Ashwin and Ravindra Jadeja in his team for the first Test. Over the years, India has played Jadeja and four sailors in overseas conditions.

The former Indian captain named Jasprit Bumrah and Mohammed Siraj as the team’s two frontline pacers. It will also be the first time Bumrah plays a Test after his injury. Gavaskar also nodded to Mukesh Kumar in front of Prasidh Krishna.

Here is Sunil Gavaskar’s starting XI for the first Test against South Africa

Rohit Sharma(C)
Yashasvi Jaiswal
Shubman Gill
Virat Kohli
Shreyas Iyer
KL Rahul (week)
Ravindra Jadeja
Ravichandran Ashwin
jasprit bumrah
Mohammed Siraj
Mukesh Kumar

IND vs SA: Sanjay Manjrekar goes against Sunil Gavaskar

Sanjay Manjrekar, who was also part of the discussion, took on Sunil Gavaskar while naming his Indian 11. He was not convinced about playing with two spinners in the team. The former Indian cricketer preferred Ravindra Jadeja over Ravichandran Ashwin.

Sanjay Manjrekar mentioned that it will be a typical Centurion pitch that will favor fast bowlers. The former Indian cricketer picked four pacers – Shardul Thakur, Jasprit Bumrah, Mohammed Siraj and Prasidh Krishna, who is yet to make his Test debut for the team.

Here is Sanjay Manjrekar’s Playing 11 for the first Test against South Africa at Centurion.

Rohit Sharma(C)
Yashasvi Jaiswal
Shubman Gill
Virat Kohli
Shreyas Iyer
KL Rahul (week)
Ravindra Jadeja
Shardul Thakur
jasprit bumrah
Mohammed Siraj
Prasidh Krishna